Veiligheidsladder (Safety Culture Ladder) certification types (SCL)
The Veiligheidsladder has several certification types, also called products. They differ in how strict the audit is, which maximum level you can reach, and whether you receive a certificate or a statement. The type that fits depends on your company size and what your client requires.
All types fall under the current edition, SCL 2.0, managed by NEN . SCL 2.0 has applied since 1 January 2024. A certificate or statement from SCL Original, SCL or SCL Light is valid for 3 years. On this page, we set out the types side by side, so you can see which one suits you.
The types at a glance
The table below compares the four main types. Pay attention to the “counts for ViA” column. Since ViA 3.0 (Dutch safety requirements for tenders), the Approved Self Assessment no longer counts for tenders.
| Type | For whom | Audit | Result | Max level | Counts for ViA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCL Original | 5+ employees | 100% per year | Certificate | All levels | Yes |
| SCL | 5+ employees | 100% in year 1, then 40% per year | Certificate | Level 4 | Yes |
| SCL Light | 5+ employees (small organisation variant: 5-50) | 40% in year 1, then review of the action plan | Statement | Level 3 | Yes |
| Approved Self Assessment (ASA) | All | Internal audit | Self-declaration | No level | No |
SCL Original
SCL Original is the most demanding and most complete type. Your organisation is fully (100%) audited every year by an accredited certification body. It results in a certificate with a level indication. According to NEN, SCL Original is the only product that also lets you reach level 5.
This type suits companies that want to give their clients maximum certainty. For example, ProRail requires an SCL Original certificate from approved rail infrastructure contractors. It is the most expensive type, because the audit covers the full organisation every year. See the costs.
SCL
With the standard SCL, your organisation is fully audited in year 1, and 40% is audited in years 2 and 3, instead of 100% every year. This also results in a certificate with a level indication up to and including level 4. The lighter audit makes this type cheaper than SCL Original.
SCL suits companies that need a full certificate, but not the full annual audit of SCL Original. For many clients who ask for level 3, an SCL certificate is enough.
SCL Light
SCL Light is an entry-level type for companies from 5 employees, with a separate variant for small organisations of 5 to 50 employees. It is a low-threshold way to grow towards level 3 without facing the strictest audit requirements right away. What SCL Light involves, and who it is meant for, is set out on the SCL Light page.
In year 1, a 40% audit follows, with a level indication up to a maximum of level 3. In years 2 and 3, an auditor checks your progress on the action plan and the behaviour goals you set yourself. An internal auditor is mandatory. The result is not a certificate but an official SCL Light Statement, valid for three years.
SCL Light counts for ViA. For many smaller construction and infrastructure companies, it is therefore the practical route to the level 3 requirement of 2026.
SAQ and Approved Self Assessment (ASA)
The SAQ (Self Assessment Questionnaire) is an online questionnaire via the mandatory NEN SCL Web tool. It is not a certificate. It is more like a thermometer: you immediately see where you stand now. Many companies use the SAQ as a baseline measurement before they go into a real audit. How to complete the questionnaire and read the results is set out on the self assessment step by step.
The Approved Self Assessment (ASA) builds on the SAQ with a gap analysis and an action plan. A certification body reviews this, but does not determine a level. An ASA is valid for 1 year and can be repeated at most once.
Important: since ViA 3.0, the ASA no longer counts for tenders. If you need to meet a ViA requirement for level 3, choose SCL Original, SCL or SCL Light. The ASA is now only useful as an internal growth tool.
Which type should you choose?
The choice depends on two questions: how large are you, and what does your client require?
- Small company (5-50 employees) that wants level 3 for ViA: SCL Light.
- Company that needs level 3 or 4 with a full certificate: SCL.
- Company that wants maximum certainty, or where ProRail requires SCL Original: SCL Original.
- Company that first wants to know where it stands internally: start with the SAQ.
More about the Veiligheidsladder
- What is the Veiligheidsladder? - The hub with all topics
- The 5 levels - Which level can you reach per type?
- ViA requirement - Which type counts?
- Costs and timeline - What does each type cost?
- SCL products (NEN) - Official overview