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What does RI&E mean?

Oct 06, 2025

The legal foundation for workplace safety

RI&E stands for Risk Inventory & Evaluation. It is the legal foundation for workplace safety in the Netherlands. Any organization with personnel is required to identify, analyze, and translate occupational risks into concrete control measures — via an action plan. An up‑to‑date and high‑quality RI&E is crucial both for compliance and for fostering a healthy and safe work culture.

Origin of RI&E

To fully understand what RI&E means, we must go back to its very beginning: the origin of RI&E. The concept stems from the European Framework Directive on the safety and health of workers from 1989. This directive placed the responsibility for working conditions on employers. In the Netherlands, this was translated into the Working Conditions Act (Arbowet), which came into effect on January 1, 1994, and has since required every employer to draw up an RI&E.
Why an RI&E is relevant for your organization

Our approach to working safely

At DEKRA, we optimize the management of occupational safety through our expertise in safe working practices. The starting point of an RI&E is always your needs and the specific conditions within your organization. Think of:
  • Safe use of work equipment
  • Handling hazardous materials and substances
  • Managing fire and explosion risks
  • Controlling exposure to physical factors (such as noise and vibration)
  • Workplace ergonomics
  • Safety culture
  • Working safely under complex conditions
  • Psychosocial workload (PSA)
The RI&E is the foundation for further action. You continuously update this document as new insights emerge. We are happy to assist you in preparing an action plan.

RI&E as a foundational instrument for sustainable safety, compliance, and effectiveness

The power of an RI&E lies in its ongoing relevance. As a living document, it serves as the foundation for continuous improvement: whenever processes, working conditions, or legislation change, the RI&E is updated. This updating is not automatic, but part of an ongoing process, with DEKRA supporting as required. By doing this properly, your organization always has current insights and appropriate measures in place. In this way, the true meaning of RI&E comes alive, as a foundational instrument for sustainable workplace safety, compliance, and effectiveness.
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