An effective RI&E and action plan form the basis of an occupational health and safety policy, which is why they are the most important obligations under the Working Conditions Act. The right tools and knowledge about working conditions are key components of a good RI&E, the purpose of which is to obtain a general insight into the health and safety risks that exist in a company or organisation.
Prevention officer
At ARN, a prevention officer is responsible for the RI&E at the office. From a prevention perspective, we focus on employees being able to count on an agreeable, and certainly safe, working environment. ARN has made the necessary investments in ergonomic and responsible office furniture, for example, as well as in adaptations to the arrangement of the office environment that make it a pleasant place to work in. The prevention officer is also vigilant when it comes to things like loose cables and other obstacles that might constitute hazards, such as tripping or slipping. The RI&E was recently tested, after which the associated action plan was slightly tweaked. A few minor points of attention were also flagged up, which ARN will proactively address in 2023.
Periodic medical examination
In addition to the RI&E, ARN did a lot more in 2022 to improve employees’ working conditions. For example, funds were set aside to enable ARN employees to work from home. These funds can be used to buy home working facilities, such as a desk or office chair. Furthermore, employees now have the option of undergoing a periodic medical examination (PME).
The PME is a preventive, periodic check-up on employees’ health, says Marco van de Goor, Finance & Control manager at ARN. Employees’ heart rate and blood values are checked, for example, and they are asked whether they experience stress at work. They are also quizzed on their lifestyle and work-life balance and are given the option of taking a fitness test. “Many employees have undergone such a PME and the feedback has been very positive. It goes without saying that the check-up is not mandatory and, being a relatively small team, ARN itself does not receive reports. This check-up is something you do for yourself.”
“Many employees have undergone such a PME and the feedback has been very positive”
Marco van de Goor, Finance & Control manager ARN
Pleasant working environment
For some employees, after working only from home for a long time during the corona crisis, the step towards going back to the office was a big one. Alongside a hybrid arrangement (working partly at home and partly at the office), the Breukelen office has now been configured in such a way that it has become more of a meeting place. Zo is er onder meer een professioneel dartbord gekomen, waar vooral tijdens de lunchpauze fanatiek gebruik van wordt gemaakt. An open office space has been created with plenty of greenery, in part to absorb and dampen noise. And there are always fresh fruit and vegetable snacks available on the standing tables.
Internal and external counsellor
Employees can also make use of an internal confidential counsellor, or they can opt to consult an external one, continues Van de Goor. The reason for also offering an external counsellor lay in the early-2022 publication of examples of transgressive behaviour at other organisations, he adds. “ARN stands for a safe working environment so employees must actually feel safe. The possibility of consulting an external counsellor is available to employees and members of the management and supervisory boards. To the best of our knowledge it was not used in 2022. Furthermore, we have also enhanced the reporting procedure and communicated this internally.”
Company cars
Regarding company cars, ARN’s departure point is that they must be electrically powered, unless of course the nature of the work precludes an electric car. Both the Board and MT of ARN now drive fully electric cars and in the long term this will also apply to the allocation of other company cars.