Inspection intervals for work equipment in Germany: overview, duties and records
Who sets inspection intervals, who may inspect and how is it documented? With an overview of typical intervals for ladders, racking, forklifts, cranes, electrical equipment and fire extinguishers.
Last updated on 8 min readAMS Go editorial team
Key points at a glance
- Work equipment whose safety depends on installation or condition must be inspected regularly under Section 14 of the Industrial Safety and Health Ordinance (BetrSichV).
- The employer defines the type, scope and intervals of inspections in the risk assessment – regulations, rules and manufacturer information provide guidance.
- Only competent persons may inspect; the result must be recorded and kept at least until the next inspection.
- A central inspection register with reminders prevents deadlines from being missed.
Why work equipment must be inspected
Ladders, racking, electrical equipment, forklifts and cranes wear out, get damaged or are installed incorrectly. Many accidents are caused by work equipment whose defects were not detected in time. Regular inspections are meant to find such damage before anyone gets hurt.
The legal basis is the Industrial Safety and Health Ordinance (Betriebssicherheitsverordnung, BetrSichV). Under Section 14, work equipment must be inspected if its safety depends on installation conditions or if it is exposed to damaging influences that can lead to dangerous situations. For certain installations requiring monitoring – such as lifts, pressure vessels or installations in potentially explosive areas – additional inspection duties apply.
Who sets the inspection intervals?
There are no fixed inspection intervals for all work equipment. As part of the risk assessment, the employer determines the type, scope and intervals of the inspections required (Section 3 BetrSichV). In particular, they take into account:
- Manufacturer information in the operating manual
- Regulations and rules of the statutory accident insurance institutions, such as DGUV regulations and rules
- Technical Rules for Industrial Safety (TRBS) and standards
- Type and frequency of use and the operating conditions, e.g. construction site or office
- Experience from previous inspections, such as the number of defects found
Overview: typical inspection intervals
The following intervals are common in practice and serve as guidance. Your own risk assessment is always decisive – shorter intervals may be needed in harsh conditions.
Portable electrical equipment
Usual intervalGuide value 6 months, 3 months on construction sites; up to 24 months in offices
BasisDGUV Regulation 3
Fixed electrical installations
Usual interval4 years
BasisDGUV Regulation 3
Ladders and steps
Usual intervalUsually once a year
BasisDGUV Information 208-016
Racking systems
Usual intervalAt least once a year
BasisDIN EN 15635
Industrial trucks such as forklifts
Usual intervalAt least once a year
BasisDGUV Regulation 68
Cranes
Usual intervalAt least once a year
BasisDGUV Regulation 52
Power-operated doors and gates
Usual intervalAt least once a year
BasisASR A1.7
Fire extinguishers
Usual intervalEvery 2 years
BasisASR A2.2
Personal fall protection equipment
Usual intervalAt least once a year
BasisDGUV Rule 112-198
Who may inspect work equipment?
Inspections may only be carried out by competent persons (befähigte Personen). These are people who have the necessary expertise through vocational training, professional experience and recent professional activity (Section 2 BetrSichV, TRBS 1203). Depending on the equipment, this may be a qualified electrician, an expert for ladders or racking, or an external inspection service.
For installations requiring monitoring, the Industrial Safety and Health Ordinance partly prescribes inspections by approved inspection bodies such as TÜV or DEKRA.
How are inspections documented?
The result of every inspection must be recorded and kept at least until the next inspection (Section 14 BetrSichV). The record includes:
- Type of inspection and scope
- Result of the inspection and defects found
- Assessment of whether the equipment can continue to be used safely
- Name of the inspector and date
- Date of the next inspection
An inspection sticker on the equipment showing the next date is practical – combined with an inspection register in which all equipment, intervals and records are kept centrally.
Setting up an inspection register: how to keep track
- 1
Record work equipment
Add all work equipment and installations subject to inspection with name, location and inventory number.
- 2
Set inspection type and interval
For each item, store the inspection type and the interval from the risk assessment.
- 3
Assign responsibilities
Decide who inspects – internally or externally – and who is responsible for scheduling.
- 4
Use reminders
Get reminded in good time before the due date so inspections can be scheduled.
- 5
Follow up on defects
Record defects found as actions with a deadline and follow them up until they are fixed.
Checklist: inspecting work equipment
- All work equipment subject to inspection is recorded
- Type, scope and intervals of inspections are in the risk assessment
- A competent person is named for every inspection
- Inspection results are recorded and kept
- Due and overdue inspections are visible at a glance
- Defects are followed up with people responsible and deadlines
- Equipment with defects is not used until they are fixed
Free templates for this guide
As PDF and Excel, no sign-up – free to use in your own company.
Frequently asked questions
How often must electrical equipment be inspected?
For portable electrical equipment, DGUV Regulation 3 gives a guide value of 6 months, 3 months on construction sites. With a low defect rate the interval can be extended, in offices up to 24 months. Fixed installations are usually inspected every 4 years.
Who sets the inspection intervals?
The employer – as part of the risk assessment under the Industrial Safety and Health Ordinance. Manufacturer information, DGUV regulations and rules and technical rules provide guidance.
How often must ladders be inspected?
Ladders and steps are usually inspected once a year by a competent person. In addition, users should check them for obvious defects before every use.
How long must inspection records be kept?
Under Section 14 BetrSichV, at least until the next inspection. Many companies keep the records longer in order to trace the inspection history of a piece of equipment.
How do I keep track of inspection deadlines?
With a central inspection register in which all work equipment, intervals and records are stored. In AMS Go, the inspection register automatically reminds you of due inspections, and defects go straight into the action plan.
Terms from the glossary
This guide 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.
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