DGUV inspection duties for work equipment in Germany: intervals and records
Hammer drill, cable reel, ladder, van: in a trade or construction business almost every piece of work equipment must be inspected. This article describes the rules in Germany. Which intervals apply, who may carry out the inspection and what the record must look like is set out in the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health (Betriebssicherheitsverordnung, BetrSichV) and in the regulations of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV). DGUV Regulation 3 has been under revision since July 2026. What that means for your business is explained further down.
Who is responsible for the inspections?
The employer is responsible. In the risk assessment the employer decides which inspections are needed, how extensive they are, at what intervals they take place and which requirements the inspectors must meet (§ 3 (6) BetrSichV).
Under § 14 BetrSichV, equipment is inspected:
- before first use, if the safety of the equipment depends on how it was installed,
- at regular intervals, if the equipment is exposed to influences that can cause dangerous damage,
- after modifications that require an inspection and after exceptional events such as accidents or long periods without use.
Electrical installations and equipment are also covered by DGUV Regulation 3. It is an accident prevention regulation of the employers’ liability insurance associations (Berufsgenossenschaften) and binding for their member companies. Municipalities and public bodies such as municipal works yards are insured with the public accident insurance funds (Unfallkassen); for them the almost identical DGUV Regulation 4 applies.
Inspection intervals for electrical equipment under DGUV Regulation 3
Under § 5 of DGUV Regulation 3, electrical installations and equipment are inspected before they are first put into operation, after a modification or repair, and then at set intervals. The intervals must be chosen so that defects are found in time. The implementation notes give guide values for this:
| Equipment | Interval | Who inspects |
|---|---|---|
| Portable equipment such as drills, angle grinders, extension leads and cable reels | Guide value 6 months, on construction sites 3 months. If the defect rate is below 2 %, a longer interval is possible: at most 1 year on construction sites, in workshops and production facilities, at most 2 years in offices | Qualified electrician; with suitable measuring and test equipment also an electrically instructed person |
| Electrical installations and fixed equipment | 4 years | Qualified electrician |
| Installations in special locations, rooms and systems (DIN VDE 0100 group 700) | 1 year | Qualified electrician |
| Residual current devices (RCD) in non-stationary installations, e.g. on a site distribution board | Test button every working day, effectiveness monthly | Test button: user. Effectiveness: qualified electrician or instructed person with a measuring device |
| RCDs in stationary installations | Test button every 6 months | User |
These are guide values. Which interval applies to your equipment is decided by your risk assessment. How the inspection is carried out technically is described in the standards DIN EN 50699 (VDE 0702) for repeat inspections and DIN EN 50678 (VDE 0701) for the inspection after a repair.
Other work equipment that must be inspected
In its guide “Empfehlung für Prüfungen von Anlagen, Geräten und Arbeitsmitteln” (as of May 2026), the employers’ liability insurance association VBG has listed which intervals have proven themselves. For trades and construction these rows matter most:
| Equipment | Basis | Interval | Inspector |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ladders and steps | BetrSichV, DGUV Information 208-016 | yearly | person qualified to inspect |
| Company vehicles | DGUV Regulation 70 | as required, at least yearly | competent person |
| Forklifts and other industrial trucks | DGUV Regulation 68 or 69 | yearly | competent person |
| Mobile elevating work platforms | DGUV Principle 308-002 | yearly | person qualified to inspect |
| Cranes | BetrSichV | yearly | person qualified to inspect |
| Winches, lifting and pulling devices | DGUV Regulation 54 | yearly | competent person |
| Personal fall protection equipment | DGUV Rules 112-198 and 112-199 | visual check before each use, yearly inspection | user, yearly a competent person |
| Fire extinguishers | ASR A2.2 | every 2 years | competent person |
For company vehicles, the service according to the manufacturer’s schedule in a workshop can count as the competent-person inspection if the occupational safety equipment is checked as well, for example high-visibility clothing and load securing. You record the result in writing, for example in an inspection log (DGUV Regulation 70, § 57).
Who may inspect?
The BetrSichV requires a “person qualified to carry out inspections”: someone who has the necessary expertise through vocational training, professional experience and recent professional activity (§ 2 (6) BetrSichV). What this means for individual types of equipment is described in the technical rule TRBS 1203. The person can be employed in your business or come from an external inspection service.
Electrical equipment is usually inspected by a qualified electrician. Electrically instructed persons may inspect portable equipment if they use suitable measuring and test equipment and work under the direction and supervision of a qualified electrician. The inspector is not bound by instructions on technical matters and must not be disadvantaged because of the inspection work (§ 14 (6) BetrSichV).
What the inspection record must contain
The result of every inspection must be recorded and kept at least until the next inspection (§ 14 (7) BetrSichV). The record states at least:
- the type of inspection,
- the scope of the inspection,
- the result,
- name and signature of the qualified person; for documents that are only transmitted electronically, an electronic signature.
You may keep the records electronically. If equipment is used at changing locations, for example on several construction sites, proof of the last inspection must be available at the place of use. The inspection sticker on the device shows the next date but does not replace the record.
If an inspection shows that equipment cannot be used safely until the next date, you must set a new inspection interval (§ 14 (2) BetrSichV).
What happens if inspections are missing?
Anyone who fails to have equipment inspected, or not in time, or does not record the result commits an administrative offence (§ 22 (1) no. 28 to 31 BetrSichV). If an occupational accident occurs that the employer caused intentionally or through gross negligence, the employers’ liability insurance association can claim its costs back from the employer (§ 110 SGB VII). With complete inspection records you can show in that case that you fulfilled your duties.
DGUV Regulations 3 and 4 are being revised: what applies now
The German federal government wants to make the inspection duty for electrical installations and equipment more practical and more closely aligned with the actual risk. On 17 July 2026 the DGUV confirmed that the revision of Regulations 3 and 4 has begun. According to a report by Haufe, the two regulations are to be merged into one.
There is no date for the new version. Until it comes into force, the existing duties and intervals apply unchanged. Contrary to what some headlines suggested in the summer, the inspection duty is not being abolished either.
Businesses may already set their inspection intervals based on the risk assessment and the defect rate. The BG ETEM points this out in the press release: for equipment under little stress, such as the coffee machine in the kitchen, longer intervals are acceptable. To justify a longer interval you need the results of earlier inspections. If you record them properly today, you have those figures.
Managing inspection dates digitally
With the Inspection & maintenance module from Craftcloud you plan the inspections of your equipment in one place:
- store inspection types and intervals for each item
- receive automatic reminders before inspections are due
- file inspection reports, checklists and certificates with the item
- report defects and document repairs
- involve external inspection service providers
- open inspection records in the app on the construction site
Inspections are part of Resource management, where you also manage the location and ownership of your devices and tools. Qualifications of your electricians and qualified persons are stored in Human resources. Existing Excel or CSV lists can be imported. More about switching and further guides can be found under Digitization in the trades.
Request a free demo: in 30 minutes we show you how inspection planning works in Craftcloud.
This article gives an overview of the rules in Germany and is not legal advice. The requirements of your accident insurance institution and your risk assessment are decisive.
Sources (German)
- Betriebssicherheitsverordnung (BetrSichV), §§ 2, 3, 14, 22
- DGUV Vorschrift 3, § 5 mit Durchführungsanweisungen und Tabellen 1A/1B (BGN-Branchenwissen)
- DGUV Vorschrift 70, § 57 Prüfung von Fahrzeugen (BGN-Branchenwissen)
- VBG: Empfehlung für Prüfungen von Anlagen, Geräten und Arbeitsmitteln, Stand Mai 2026 (PDF)
- DGUV-Pressemitteilung vom 17.07.2026: Pflicht zur Prüfung elektrischer Anlagen wird überarbeitet
- Haufe, 27.07.2026: Bundesregierung plant Zusammenlegung der DGUV Vorschriften 3 & 4
- SGB VII, § 110 Haftung gegenüber den Sozialversicherungsträgern
