Work equipment (Arbeitsmittel)
Also: Arbeitsmittel
Definition
Work equipment means tools, devices, machines and installations used at work – from ladders to forklifts to production plants. It is subject to the German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health with its risk assessment, instruction and inspection duties.
The definition in Section 2 (1) of the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health is broad: office furniture, IT equipment and vehicles are also work equipment. The employer may only provide work equipment that is suitable and safe for the working conditions; they must assess hazards, instruct employees and arrange inspections by qualified persons.
Installations subject to monitoring – lifts, pressure equipment, installations in potentially explosive areas – are a subset with stricter inspection duties by approved inspection bodies.
Legal basis
- Section 2 (1) of the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health
Learn more
- Inspections
Inspection intervals for work equipment in Germany: overview, duties and records
8 minRead - Testing duties
UVV inspections in Germany: what must be inspected, how often and by whom
8 minRead - Testing duties
Work equipment inspection register template (Excel) with inspection intervals
ExcelFree download
Related terms
This glossary entry gives a general overview of German occupational safety law and does not replace legal advice. The regulations in force and the rules of the statutory accident insurance institutions are authoritative.
