On 24 November 2008, the Dutch Minister of Social Affairs and Employment asked the Social and Economic Council’s Working Conditions Committee to advise the Government on how best to deal with inhalant allergens in the workplace. In his request, the Minister referred to two options for exercising the employer’s duty of care with respect to inhalant allergens, in other words to prevent the detrimental effects of exposure. The first option involves developing guidelines for employers. The second involves identifying an ‘accepted risk level’ and making improvements based on that level in order to prevent or reduce exposure. The Minister asked the Committee to evaluate both options and also submitted a number of specific questions concerning the chosen option. The request for advice is explicitly limited to inhalant allergens, in other words substances that cause an allergic reaction in the lungs, such as asthma. Exposure via the skin is therefore not considered, as better protection is both available and feasible in such situations.