Is a written risk assessment mandatory in Belgium, and how often must it be reviewed?

Yes. Every employer in Belgium must carry out a risk analysis as part of a dynamic risk management system, and its results must be written into a global prevention plan covering five years, renewed at least every five years, and an annual action plan drawn up in writing each year. Between those dates the analysis must be adapted whenever circumstances change, such as new equipment, new substances, accidents or incidents.

Short answer

• Legal basis: Well-being Act Article 5 and Code of well-being at work, book I, title 2 (articles I.2-2 to I.2-12), which transposes Directive 89/391/EEC.
• Written documents: the global prevention plan (plan global de prévention), which must include the results of hazard identification and risk evaluation, and the annual action plan (plan d'action annuel).
• Review cycle: a new global prevention plan at least every five years; an annual action plan every year; ad hoc updates after changes, accidents and incidents.
• Consultation: the Committee for prevention and protection at work gives prior advice on the global plan and on the draft action plan.
• Specific analyses: separate risk analyses are required in other titles, for example psychosocial risks, chemical agents, explosive atmospheres (with an explosion protection document) and electrical installations.

What the risk analysis must cover

The Code requires the analysis at three levels: the organisation as a whole, each group of workstations or functions, and the individual workstation or worker. Each level goes through three steps: identify the hazards, define and determine the risks, and evaluate them. The domains are work safety, health protection, psychosocial aspects, ergonomics, occupational hygiene, embellishment of workplaces and environmental measures that influence these.

Measures are then chosen in a fixed order:

1. Measures that avoid risks.
2. Measures that avoid harm.
3. Measures that limit harm.

The employer checks whether each measure creates new risks. The internal service participates in hazard identification and advises on the results; in group D employers, and in group C employers without an adviser trained to level I or II, the external service performs this advisory role and its strategic advice must be taken into account in the global prevention plan.

The five-year plan and the annual action plan

The employer evaluates the system regularly with line managers and the prevention services. The evaluation takes into account annual reports, Committee advice, changes in circumstances, accidents and incidents, violence and harassment cases, the occupational physician's global report on periodic health surveillance and, where relevant, the external service's strategic advice.

How Belgium compares

The EU Framework Directive requires the employer to be in possession of a risk assessment but leaves documentation details and review intervals largely to national law. Belgium adds the five-year and annual planning cycle. Türkiye takes a different approach: Article 12 of its Regulation on OSH Risk Assessment (İş Sağlığı ve Güvenliği Risk Değerlendirmesi Yönetmeliği) requires renewal at least every two, four or six years for very hazardous, hazardous and less hazardous workplaces, and earlier after changes or accidents.

Common mistakes

• Keeping a spreadsheet of hazards with no global prevention plan or annual action plan. Inspectors look for both written plans.
• Implementing the annual action plan before the Committee has given its advice. The Code forbids this unless the year has already started.
• Forgetting the individual level, for example pregnant workers, young workers or workers with restrictions.

Related on excodex

• Occupational safety and health in Belgium: law, authorities and employer duties
• Is a safety committee or a worker safety representative required in Belgium?
• Workplace risk assessment process, team, records and review
• How often must an Explosion Protection Document be reviewed?

Standards and further reading

• Code of well-being at work, book I, title 2, articles I.2-2 to I.2-12, consolidated 13 June 2026: FPS Employment PDF
• Act of 4 August 1996 on the well-being of workers, Article 5: FPS Employment PDF
• Directive 89/391/EEC on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work

This article is general occupational safety and health information prepared by the excodex editorial team. It does not replace the applicable legislation, standards, manufacturers' instructions or the assessment of a competent OSH professional or occupational physician.