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Health Council & DECOS β
Health Council & DECOS
The Health Council of the Netherlands (Gezondheidsraad) is an independent scientific advisory body. Its remit is to advise the government and Parliament on the current level of knowledge with respect to public health issues and health (services) research. Most of the advisory opinions that the Council produces every year are prepared at the request of one of the ministers. In addition, the Health Council issues unsolicited advice that has an 'alerting' function. In some cases, such an alerting report leads to a minister requesting further advice on the subject.
Every year, the Health Council publishes advisory reports on a large number of substances which employees might be exposed to at the workplace. The Council also issues advice on occupational risks such as employees' physical and psychosocial burden at work.
At request of the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, the Health Council of the Netherlands recommends health-based occupational exposure limits for the concentration of toxic substances in the air at the workplace. These recommendations are made by the Council's Dutch Expert Committee on Occupational Safety (DECOS).
Continual activities within this focus area include:
- identifying risks at the workplace
- advising on protection against harmful substances
- advising on protection against carcinogenic substances
- advising on protection against reproductive toxins (chemicals that can damage the reproductive system or offspring)
Internet: www.gezondheidsraad.nl