The global prevention plan in Belgium is the written plan in which you as an employer set out, for 5 years, the risks in your company and what you do about them. The annual action plan turns that into concrete actions each year. Both are mandatory for every employer, even with one employee. The global plan has 8 statutory elements, the annual plan 4, and the draft annual plan goes to the Committee for advice no later than the first day of month 2 before the new year. Below you will find what goes in, who draws them up and an example annual plan for an SME.
What is a global prevention plan?
The global prevention plan puts into practice the dynamic risk management system of the code on well-being at work. You identify hazards, assess risks and choose measures. The plan records that for a period of 5 years and takes account of the size of your company and the nature of the risks (article I.2-8 of the code).
It is not a document for the drawer. The Supervision of Well-being at Work inspectorate asks for it during an inspection, and it is the basis for your annual action plan, the Committee's advice and the choices you make after an accident. Its place among all your obligations is in our guide on the well-being at work act.
Global prevention plan: the eight mandatory elements
The plan is drawn up in writing and contains at least:
| Element (article I.2-8) | What you put in it | Example in an SME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Results of the risk analysis | The hazards, identified risks and their assessment | Lifting in the warehouse, screen work, workload at peaks |
| 2. Prevention measures | Which measures you take per risk | Lifting aid, ergonomic workstations, peak planning |
| 3. Priority objectives | What you want to achieve first | Fewer back complaints, no forklift accidents |
| 4. Activities and tasks | What is done to reach the objectives | Forklift training, purchases, workstation visits |
| 5. Means | Organisational, material and financial | Budget, advisor hours, external service |
| 6. Duties of everyone involved | Who does what: employer, managers, advisor | Team leader checks the wearing of safety shoes |
| 7. Adjusting the plan | How the plan is updated | After every serious accident and with a new activity |
| 8. Evaluation criteria | How you measure whether the policy works | Number of accidents, absenteeism, survey results |
Measures follow a fixed order: first avoid risks, then avoid damage, then limit damage (article I.2-7). They cover, among other things, work organisation, workplace layout, workstations, equipment and chemicals, protective equipment and workwear, signage, health surveillance, psychosocial risks, training, coordination with third parties and emergency procedures. Protective equipment is always free for the employee: see must the employer provide workwear.
The annual action plan
The annual action plan is based on the global plan and sets out for the next financial year (article I.2-9):
- the priority objectives for that year;
- the means and methods to achieve them;
- the tasks, duties and means of everyone involved;
- the adjustments to the global plan due to changed circumstances, accidents and incidents, the internal service's annual report and the Committee's advice of the past year.
| Global prevention plan | Annual action plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Term | 5 years | One financial year |
| Content | 8 elements, from risk analysis to evaluation criteria | 4 elements, from annual objectives to adjustments |
| Who draws it up | Employer with managers and prevention services | Same |
| Committee advice | Beforehand, at every change or adjustment | Draft no later than the first day of month 2 before the year |
| Implementation | After the advice | Not before the advice, or without advice not before the year starts |
If your financial year is the calendar year, the draft action plan for 2027 goes to the Committee no later than 1 November 2026.
Who draws up the global prevention plan?
The employer draws it up, in consultation with managers and the prevention and protection services (articles I.2-8 and I.2-10). He involves them in drafting, implementing and evaluating it, and consults the Committee.
In an SME the work is split like this:
- The external service often provides the risk analysis and a draft. In group C or D without a level I or II advisor, you take into account the external service's policy advice. What that service does and costs is in external prevention service.
- The internal prevention advisor advises, follows up implementation and writes the annual report that steers the next annual plan. Who can take that role at your company is in internal prevention advisor.
- Managers implement the policy on the floor: they investigate accidents, check equipment and induct new employees.
- The Committee advises, or failing that the union delegation or the employees themselves. A Committee exists from 50 employees, through the social elections.
Example: an annual action plan for an SME
A wholesaler with 25 employees, warehouse and office, group C, with an internal advisor without level I or II. This is an example, not a template: your plan follows from your own risk analysis.
| Objective | Risk from the analysis | Action | Responsible | Means | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No forklift accidents | Collisions in the warehouse | Training and certificate for each driver, mark walkways | Warehouse manager | Training budget, paint and signage | First quarter |
| Fewer back complaints | Manual lifting of heavy boxes | Buy a lifting aid, have the external service review workstations | Employer and advisor | Investment, external service hours | Second quarter |
| Better follow-up of psychosocial risks | Workload during seasonal peaks | Survey by the external service, peak planning with temporary staff | Employer | External service prevention units | Third quarter |
| First aid in order | Too few trained first aiders | Train two more first aiders, check the first aid kit | Advisor | Training | First quarter |
| Safe start for new employees | Accidents in the first weeks | Induction procedure with signed document and a mentor | Managers | Time of experienced colleagues | Ongoing |
| Heat in the warehouse | High summer temperatures | Ventilation, drinking water, adjusted hours | Employer | Fans | Before summer |
The actions become concrete steps to tick off next year. For first aid, see is first aid mandatory, for drinks in hot weather must the employer provide water. If part of your staff teleworks, include the home workstation too: see structural telework.
Evaluating the plan: what you look at every year
The code requires a regular evaluation of the system, together with managers and the prevention services (article I.2-12). You take into account in particular:
- the annual reports of the internal and external service;
- the advice of the Committee and, where relevant, of the inspectorate;
- changed circumstances, such as a new activity, a move, new machines or more telework;
- accidents and incidents, and acts of violence, harassment or unwanted sexual behaviour;
- the overall reporting on periodic health surveillance;
- the external service's policy advice, if you received it.
That evaluation produces the adjustments for the next annual plan. After 5 years you start from a new analysis for a new global plan.
Drawing up a global prevention plan in six steps
- Ask your external service for the risk analysis, for all areas, including psychosocial risks.
- Choose priorities. Start with the risks most likely to cause serious injury, and with accidents that already happened.
- Write the plan following the 8 elements, with means and responsibilities.
- Submit it to the Committee, the union delegation or the employees, and include their advice.
- Draw up next year's annual plan and submit the draft in time.
- Evaluate every year with the internal service's annual report, accidents and advice. Draw up a new global plan at least every 5 years.
Mistakes we often see
- No plan, or a plan older than 5 years. The inspectorate asks for it first: see labour inspection.
- A standard plan without your own risk analysis. A template without your risks is not a plan.
- No means or responsibilities. It stays at intentions.
- Submitting the annual plan too late. Without advice you may not implement it.
- Not feeding accidents into the plan. Every serious accident belongs in next year's adjustments. How to report one is in reporting an occupational accident.
- No plan in a small company. It is required in a small SME too, adapted to its size.
A breach of well-being legislation risks a sanction under the Social Penal Code: what changes this year is in Social Penal Code 2026.
What Business Centrum does for you
Business Centrum is not a prevention service and does not draw up a global prevention plan or annual plan: your external service and advisor do that. We do supply what the plan needs from personnel administration: the number of employees per job, accidents and absences from payroll, and the data for your external service, together with Acerta. With a personnel analysis you see where absence and turnover concentrate. For the practical side, see also is a prevention advisor mandatory and drawing up work rules. Unsure whether you comply? Have it checked.