What is Arbouw?
Arbouw is the Dutch knowledge and service institute for occupational health and safety in the construction industry. The organisation develops guidelines, educational materials and tools to make working in construction safer and healthier.
Purpose and tasks
Arbouw was founded by employer and employee organisations in the Dutch construction sector. Its activities include:
- Education — brochures, digital tools and campaigns on safe working practices
- Research — studies on health risks in construction, such as quartz dust, vibrations and physical strain
- Guidelines — practical guides for safe working at height, in confined spaces and with hazardous substances
- Arbo Catalogue for Construction & Infrastructure — the recognised collection of solutions to comply with Dutch health and safety law
Application
Arbouw is relevant for anyone working professionally in Dutch construction:
- Contractors — use the Arbo Catalogue as the basis for their health and safety plans
- Site managers — consult Arbouw guidelines for toolbox talks
- Self-employed — can download free educational material
- Clients — refer to Arbouw standards in specifications
Comparable organisations internationally
- HSE (UK) — Health and Safety Executive
- OSHA (US) — Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- BG BAU (Germany) — the construction industry’s professional association for safety
Related terms
- Occupational health and safety
- Scaffolding
- Construction site
- Safety
- Risk assessment
Want to learn more about construction terms? Visit our knowledge base at fredsdiyplans.com.