The marketing and use of asbestos has been banned since 1994. The processing of existing asbestos materials is almost universally prohibited as well. Having said that, large amounts of asbestos are still present in buildings, installations and ships. Strict regulations exist to protect workers against the risks of asbestos. The Working Conditions Decree contains a separate chapter on asbestos.
Limit value and risk classes
A strict limit value applies to asbestos. This stipulates that no more than 2,000 asbestos fibres per cubic metre of air (2,000 v/m3) are permitted in the air inhaled by workers as they work. This limit applies as the average value, over an 8-hour working day.
If the content of asbestos fibres in the air is below this limit, the work falls into risk class 1. A number of basic rules then apply. If the content of asbestos fibres in the air exceeds this limit, the work falls into risk classes 2 or 2A. In that case additional rules apply.
Survey, registration, removal and release
During work involving a risk of exposure to asbestos fibres, for example maintenance, repair or demolition of a building or plant, employers are obliged to make a number of arrangements for their employees. The party that commissions the work also has a responsibility in this regard.
Asbestos must be removed before work starts, unless this makes the work situation even more unsafe. To this end an asbestos survey must be carried out. Such a survey is mandatory in the case of buildings and objects built before 1994. In the case of ships it is also mandatory if they were built after 1994. Only a certified asbestos survey company is allowed to carry out this survey.
Read more about how to conduct an asbestos survey
If the survey shows that the removal of the asbestos falls into risk class 2 or 2A, the work should only be carried out by a certified asbestos removal contractor. If the removal is found to be in risk class 1, non-certified companies are also allowed to do the work. Asbestos removal work must be reported to the Netherlands Labour Authority at least 2 days in advance (Dutch) and registered in the National Asbestos Tracking System (Dutch) in case of work cover by risk classes 2 or 2A. Upon completion of asbestos removal, a final assessment must be carried out so that the location can be made available once again to the user.
Read more about asbestos removal
The Netherlands Labour Authority no longer sends confirmations of receipt (pdf) to the person submitting the report, competent authorities and certifying bodies. However, LAVS is continuing to do so and, although these confirmations are structured differently to the notifications which used to be sent by the Netherlands Labour Authority, they contain the same information. More information is available at iplo.nl/lavs (Dutch).