VCU certification for temporary employment agencies
VCU stands for Veiligheid en Gezondheid Checklist Uitzendorganisaties (Safety and Health Checklist for Temporary Employment Agencies). It is the VCA version for temporary employment agencies and staffing companies that supply staff to VCA-certified clients. VCU shows that an agency handles temporary workers safely and responsibly. As with VCA, the scheme is managed by the SSVV (Stichting Samenwerken Voor Veiligheid, the Stichting Samenwerken Voor Veiligheid), and certification runs through an accredited body (the Dutch Accreditation Council, RvA).
The idea behind VCU is simple: a safety chain is only as strong as its weakest link. If a client requires VCA from contractors, but temporary workers arrive through an agency with no safety controls, a gap appears. VCU closes that gap. You can read more about the terms on the VCA terms page.
VCU focuses on safe and healthy working when placing workers. NEN 4400 and the SNA quality mark cover a different topic: obligations around making labour available and contracting work. Check separately what the Wtta and SNA rules mean for your situation. Wtta stands for Wet ter beschikkingstelling arbeidskrachten door intermediairs (Dutch Act on Placing Workers through Intermediaries).
Who is VCU for?
VCU is for temporary employment agencies and staffing companies that place workers with companies that have increased safety risks, such as construction, industry and technical sectors. If your agency supplies welders, mechanics or construction workers to VCA-certified clients, those clients will often ask for VCU.
Placing office staff with an insurer does not fall under this. As soon as you place people at locations with physical risks, VCU becomes relevant.
What is the difference between VCA and VCU?
VCA and VCU are similar, but they are meant for different organisations. VCA is for contractors that carry out the work themselves. VCU is for agencies that supply people who do that work.
| Feature | VCA | VCU |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Contractors and subcontractors | Temporary employment agencies and staffing companies |
| Scope | Safety, health and environment | Safety and health |
| Focus | Carrying out work safely | Selecting and placing staff safely |
| Personal diploma | B-VCA, VOL-VCA | VIL-VCU (for intermediaries) |
| Administered by | SSVV | SSVV |
| Validity | 3 years | 3 years |
One clear difference: VCU covers safety and health, not the environment. The “M” (milieu, environment) in VCA is therefore missing, because an agency does not cause environmental risks itself.
The requirements of VCU
VCU sets requirements for how a temporary employment agency fulfils its role in the safety chain. The checklist revolves around a few key questions:
- Selection: Do you choose suitable candidates and check their safety certificates?
- Information: Do you inform temporary workers about the risks and the requirements of the client?
- Cooperation with the client: Do you align on safety requirements and the work situation?
- Internal diplomas: Do your own intermediaries hold a VIL-VCU diploma?
- Incidents: Do you record and analyse incidents involving temporary workers?
The VIL-VCU diploma
VCU has its own personal diploma: VIL-VCU, in full Veiligheid voor Intercedenten en Leidinggevenden van uitzendorganisaties (Safety for Intermediaries and Managers of Temporary Employment Agencies). This diploma is mandatory for intermediaries, account managers and branch managers who place temporary workers in VCA environments.
Important to know: VIL-VCU is for your own office staff, not for the temporary workers themselves. Temporary workers who do high-risk work still need B-VCA or VOL-VCA, just like permanent employees. The diploma is valid for ten years.
What does VCU certification cost?
The cost of VCU depends on the size of your organisation, the number of branches and your starting situation. Budget separately for staff diplomas, internal preparation, any coaching and the external certification. The number of locations and the scope of the audit can affect the quote.
The calculate VCU costs page contains quote questions and a fictional budget. Ask providers to specify training and exams separately. Also ask the certifying body to name the initial audit, follow-up checks and any remediation assessment.
As with a VCA certificate, the VCU certificate is valid for three years. Every year, the auditor visits for an interim audit. For a description of what those VCU audits check, read VCU audit: what does the certification body check?. A client can verify the certificate in the VCU register.
More information
- What is VCA? – The main page about VCA
- VCA levels – VCA*, VCA** or Petrochemistry?
- Personal certificates – B-VCA, VOL-VCA and VIL-VCU
- Costs and timeline – What does certification cost?
- VCA terms – All abbreviations explained