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VCA: Safety, Health and Environment Checklist for Contractors

VCA is the VGM Checklist Aannemers (safety, health and environment checklist for contractors): a widely used scheme in which contractors and other companies get certified for managing safety, health and environment.

Explanation

VCA originated in the Netherlands to give clients a common yardstick for the safety of contractors and subcontractors. A certificate shows that a company organises safety in a structured way, instead of every client assessing that separately. You see it a lot in construction, industry, installation and infrastructure.

There are variants for companies, with different levels depending on the company's role, and diplomas for individuals, such as basic safety for operatives and a variant for supervisors. A certification body assesses the company and the certificate is periodically reassessed.

In practice VCA is about things you would want even without a certificate: a risk assessment, TRAs and LMRAs, toolbox talks, inspections, instructions, training and incident registration. Whether a client asks for VCA, and which level, is the client's choice. The current requirements are held by the scheme owner.

Example from practice

A subcontractor who wants to work for an industrial client hears that a VCA certificate is required. He carries out internal checks and toolbox talks, sets up his risk assessment and TRA and has himself audited by a certification body.

© 2026 BrydgeOne. General information, not legal or other professional advice. No rights can be derived from this explanation.

In BrydgeOne

Where you work with VCA

TRATask risk analysis per task step, with control measures and approval. LMRALast-minute risk analysis before the job. Toolbox talksShare toolbox talks and record attendance. Certificate managementTrack the validity of diplomas and inspections. VCASafety for contractors
Knowledge base

Keep reading

Preparing for VCA certification: a checklist for your organizationDo you want to become VCA certified or keep your certificate? Then you want to know in advance what an auditor looks at and what evidence you need at hand. This checklist helps you approach the preparation in a practical way. VCA* or VCA**: which certificate fits your company?VCA* or VCA**: which company certificate suits you depends mostly on how you work and what your clients ask for. You get the difference in plain words, including VCA-P for the petrochemical sector, and a fixed way to make the choice. ISO 45001 or VCA: what is the difference and which one suits your company?ISO 45001 is a management system standard for occupational health and safety that your whole organisation has certified by a certification body. VCA is a checklist for contractors and other operating companies that want to show clients they work safely, with the levels VCA*, VCA** and VCA petrochemical. In practice your client decides which one you need; the two overlap strongly and you can combine them.
Glossary

See also

VGMSafety, Health and EnvironmentTRATask Risk AnalysisLMRALast Minute Risk AnalysisToolbox talkToolbox talkCertificationCertification

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