[Chromium 6 in the news: striking example of occupational care recommendations from the SER]

Over the summer occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium has become an issue of great concern to the Dutch press and society. It became clear that, despite many warnings, Department of Defence workers were being occupationally exposed to high levels of chromium 6. The Department of Defence has been confronted with an increasing number of claims for occupational diseases caused by chromium 6. Simultaneously with the chromium 6 problems coming to light, the long-awaited recommendations of the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands (SER) were published. The chromium 6 affair reveals a structural problem in Dutch occupational healthcare and perfectly illustrates the conclusions and advice issued by the Dutch Social and Economic Council.