The short answer
For immediate danger or a life-threatening emergency, call 112 and follow emergency instructions. Report the incident to the workplace and your legal employer.
Deal with immediate safety first
For an agency worker these can be different organisations. Record where and when it happened, the task, witnesses and the equipment involved once it is safe to do so.
Serious accidents have a reporting route
Employers must report occupational accidents involving death, hospital admission or permanent injury to the Netherlands Labour Authority. If a serious consequence becomes known later, a reporting obligation can still arise. An inspection report and an individual compensation claim are separate processes. Keep medical and employment records and ask an independent adviser about responsibility and any claim.
What to do next
- Obtain medical help and prevent further immediate danger.
- Notify the workplace and legal employer and request an incident record.
- Keep evidence and check the Labour Authority reporting route for serious consequences.
You are injured at a client’s warehouse while employed by an agency. Inform both organisations and preserve the incident details; telling only a colleague may not start the required employer process.
Questions people ask
Who must report a serious occupational accident?
The employer has a statutory reporting duty in the specified serious cases. Workers can also contact the Labour Authority about an incident or unsafe conditions.
What if the injury is diagnosed later?
Serious consequences discovered later can still trigger reporting. Keep the diagnosis date and tell the employer promptly.
Does an inspection automatically pay compensation?
No. Enforcement and a personal damages claim are separate. Seek advice about your particular loss and responsibility.
What should an agency worker save?
Workplace and agency details, the assignment, incident time, witness information, messages and relevant medical records.
Is every commuting accident treated as a workplace accident?
Not automatically. Ordinary travel to and from work is generally treated differently; the circumstances need checking.
Sources
Last verified: 4 October 2026. Sources are in Dutch or English.