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The scheme is intended for employees, former employees, retirees, temporary workers and trainees who are or were employed in aircraft, engine or component maintenance at KLM Engineering & Maintenance, Transavia, Regional Jet Center and its predecessor Martinair and who work or have worked with chromium-6.

The KLM Group announces that a collective arrangement has been drawn up for persons who have a condition that may be caused by chromium-6 when working with this type of metal. The scheme consists of various components, includes a financial compensation and follows a previously conducted exposure study.

The KLM Group considers the health and safety of employees to be of great importance and deeply regrets that a number of (former) employees may have an increased risk of health problems as a result of working with chromium-6. This scheme is intended as a compensation for any damage suffered. The KLM Group understands that (former) employees have been in uncertainty about this and wants to provide guidance with the previous research and this arrangement.

The scheme is intended for employees, former employees, retirees, temporary workers and trainees who are or were employed in aircraft, engine or component maintenance at KLM Engineering & Maintenance, Transavia, Regional Jet Center and its predecessor Martinair and who work or have worked with chromium-6. Next of kin and/or heirs may also qualify.

When determining the benefit, individual aspects, such as employment history and the degree of exposure to chromium-6, are taken into account by means of an exposure matrix (a so-called Job Exposure Matrix). This overview shows the degree of possible exposure to chromium-6 per unit/business unit, per function and per year.  

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The scheme consists of a material part; a fixed financial allowance, and an intangible part that depends on the personal situation, the diagnosed condition and the degree and duration of exposure to chromium-6. Payment amounts are therefore not generic.  

The scheme is comparable to the agreements made by the government (as an employer) for Defense employees and is also in line with Dutch case law in this area.

“It is important that the exposure study that the KLM Group has commissioned provides more clarity about what working with chromium-6 means or has meant for employees and former employees. The KLM Group considers it important to be an employer that puts health and safety at the forefront and would have liked to have seen better success in protecting employees in the past. This scheme is intended as a compensation for any damage suffered.”

Previous exposure study conclusions

The announcement of the regulation follows the previous exposure study, the results of which were published in March of this year. The KLM Group commissioned this investigation after it became clear that work had been carried out in aircraft, engine and component maintenance departments in recent decades, which may have resulted in exposure to chromium-6. This research has been validated by an external independent committee of experts.

The exposure study showed that in most cases work was carried out within the legal limit values, but that exposure in a number of functions may have been higher than the then legal limit value in certain periods.

Information sessions

The KLM Group understands that there are questions about the scheme. That is why information sessions are organized for employees and former employees. Former employees can register for the information sessions on 10 November by sending an email to the chromium-6 information point: CR6informatie@klm.com stating 'Register information session 10 November'.

Applying for benefits

As of November 21, (former) employees can apply for the scheme on the chrome-6 website. The KLM Group calls on former employees who have worked at the company with chromium-6 in the past to report (via the information point), if they have not already done so, so that they can be informed when they can apply for the scheme. This also applies to pensioners, temporary workers, trainees and surviving relatives of employees who have worked with chromium-6 within the KLM Group at the group entities KLM Engineering & Maintenance (E&M), Transavia and Regional Jet Center (RJC) and its predecessor Martinair, according to KLM. .

Middle photo: KLM image bank.

 

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