vijfveilige

Vijfveilige is a Dutch term used to describe a safety framework that emphasizes five core pillars intended to structure risk assessment and mitigation across sectors. The concept is used in public discourse and by organizations seeking to improve safety culture in schools, workplaces, urban spaces, and digital environments. The term is a compound of vijf ('five') and veilige ('safe'), signaling a multi-layered approach to safety rather than a single rule.

The five pillars are prevention, protection, detection, response, and recovery. Prevention covers measures to reduce the likelihood of harm; protection includes barriers and controls to limit impact; detection focuses on timely identification of threats; response encompasses actions to counter incidents; and recovery emphasizes restoring normal operations and learning to prevent recurrence. Implementations vary by sector and context, often involving risk assessments, training, and clear roles and procedures.

Critics note that while the five-pillars model helps organize safety thinking, it can risk oversimplification if tailored to specific risks without sufficient detail or metrics. Proponents argue it provides a common language to align safety initiatives across departments and partners.

As a term, vijfveilige remains primarily descriptive and contextual in Dutch-language safety literature, used to describe any approach that adopts these five pillars rather than to designate a single standardized framework. It is commonly applied in discussions about safety culture, risk management, and governance, where clarity about objectives and responsibilities is valued.