Safety Effect Report
The Dutch Safety Effect Report (Veiligheidseffectrapportage, VER) identifies safety risks in spatial planning and building plans. Before construction actually starts, a risk assessment is performed and safety measures are proposed. The VER is an initiative by the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties, BZK). The instrument was developed in collaboration with the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten, VNG) and representatives of the welfare services.
Aims of the VER
The VER aims to maximise the safety of construction projects (primarily large-scale projects) for users. Safety is crucial for all buildings and locations, from railway stations and residential developments to multiplexes. In collaboration with experts in the field, the Center for Crime Prevention and Safety (Centrum Criminaliteitspreventie Veligheid, CCV) ensures the VER process is described clearly and that the latest casuistry is easily accessible.
Applying the VER
Applying the VER is the responsibility of the construction project’s commissioning authority. While in most cases this is the municipal authority, it may also be a housing corporation, project developer or other professional authority. The VER primarily focuses on collaboration processes between various partners, such as municipal authorities, project developers, the police and fire services, and the healthcare sector, who work together – each from their own line of approach – towards a common aim: safety. The VER modules are incorporated in the project building phases and include:
- Supporting information
- Motivation
- Analysis
- Alternatives
- Measures
- Implementation
- Management plan
Benefits of the VER
Implementing the VER offers clear benefits:
- Support for high-risk plans;
- Overcoming in advance project management problems (i.e. additional costs);
- Sustainability and economic value of a project are increased;
- Development of an integrated approach for safety issues;
- Post-project evidence of due care in dealing with the safety
issues.