Workplace Safety Training for Employees — Basic Instruction under German Law
What this course is about
You have already started this course.
What this course does not cover (expand)
What this course is about — and what it is not
Before you start, you should know what your certificate will cover at the end — and what it explicitly will not.
What you learn here
This course is the basic instruction on workplace safety and health: the rules that apply in every company where people work, transport, lift and operate machines. It applies to new colleagues before their first day of work just as it applies to everyone else as the annual refresher. The aim is simple: recognise hazards in time and avoid wrong behaviour — before something happens.
What your certificate covers
Employers must instruct their employees on safety and health before they start work and regularly thereafter. This duty is laid down in § 12 of the Arbeitsschutzgesetz (ArbSchG, the German Occupational Safety and Health Act) and in § 4 of DGUV Vorschrift 1 (the accident prevention regulation “Principles of Prevention”). If you pass the final test, you receive a certificate with a number that documents the general part of this instruction. It lists all topics so that an auditor can see what was covered.
What it explicitly does not cover
This online course does not replace the instruction at your workplace. Which machine you may operate, where the emergency stop is, where the first-aid kit, the fire extinguishers and the assembly point are, who your first aider is — only your company knows that, and your supervisor must show you on site and document it with your signature on the instruction record. Module 17 lists exactly what belongs there. Nor is this course a hands-on briefing on a crane, forklift or specific machine, and it is not a first-aider or safety representative training.
Remember
This course fulfils the general part of your basic instruction. It does not replace the workplace-specific instruction on site — machines, locations, contact persons.
Typical mistake: The certificate is filed and the walk-through of the company is skipped. Then exactly the part that counts in an emergency is missing from the audit.
The legal framework: who must instruct, and when?
In Germany, occupational safety is not a voluntary offer but the law — with duties on both sides.
The employer's duty
§ 12 of the Arbeitsschutzgesetz (ArbSchG) requires instruction before work starts, after changes in the job, when new work equipment or technology is introduced — and regular repetition. How regular is defined by § 4 of DGUV Vorschrift 1: at least once a year, and the instruction must be documented. For young workers under 18, § 29 of the Jugendarbeitsschutzgesetz (JArbSchG, Youth Employment Protection Act) requires repetition at least every six months. Instruction takes place during working hours, in an understandable form and language. It must not cost you anything: § 3(3) ArbSchG forbids passing the costs of occupational safety on to employees — this covers instruction, protective equipment and medical check-ups.
The employees' duty
Instruction does not shift the responsibility to you, but part of it does: § 15 ArbSchG obliges you to look after your own safety and that of your colleagues as far as you can and according to the instruction, and to use machines, tools, substances, means of transport, safety devices and protective equipment as intended. § 16 ArbSchG requires you to report hazards and defects in protective systems without delay. And § 17 ArbSchG gives you the right to make suggestions and — if nothing happens in the company — to contact the competent authority, without suffering any disadvantage for it.
Why it matters
A breach of the duty to instruct is an administrative offence for the employer. A breach of your duties can have consequences under employment law, from a written warning to dismissal — and, after an accident, raises the question of who acted with gross negligence.
Remember
Instruction before the first task, after every change and at least once a year — young workers every six months. It is free, takes place during working hours, and you are obliged to follow it.
Typical mistake: “I have worked here for 15 years, I don't need an instruction.” You do — every year, and for every new machine.
Work only where you have been instructed
The first rule of every basic instruction: work only where you have been instructed.
Instructed, briefed, authorised
For a workplace this means: you only work there once you have received the instruction and confirmed it with your signature on the instruction record. For machines and vehicles there is also the hands-on briefing — someone shows you the specific machine, its safety guards and the emergency stop. For certain tasks you additionally need a written authorisation by the employer (§ 7 DGUV Vorschrift 1): crane, forklift, aerial work platform. Whoever goes to a machine without a briefing is not being brave but exposing themselves and others to a risk nobody has assessed.
Work carefully, ask instead of guessing
If you have not understood something, ask — your supervisor, the safety representative, an experienced colleague. Nobody expects you to know everything at once. What is expected is that you do not guess. Accidents happen especially in the first weeks, because new people do not want to ask so as not to look inexperienced.
Instructions that are unsafe
It happens: “Do it quickly without the goggles, it only takes a minute.” § 15(1) DGUV Vorschrift 1 makes it clear: you must follow the employer's instructions on safety — but instructions that are clearly directed against safety and health must not be followed. That is not refusal, it is your duty. Say it calmly and factually, and if there is a dispute, involve the next level of management or the safety representative.
Remember
No workplace without instruction, no machine without a hands-on briefing, no crane and no forklift without written authorisation. Asking is a duty, not a weakness. An instruction that is clearly unsafe must not be followed.
Typical mistake: A colleague is ill — “then I'll do his machine today” — without a briefing. That is exactly how the accidents happen that nobody can explain afterwards.
Order, traffic routes and trip hazards
The most frequent cause of accidents in a company is not the machine. It is the floor.
Slips, trips and falls
Roughly one in five reportable occupational accidents is a slip, trip or fall — in total more than any other single cause. The reasons are banal: a cable across the aisle, a pallet that is “only briefly” in the way, an oil spill, wet tiles, a frayed mat, poor lighting. Banal also means: almost all of it can be prevented — by you.
Order is occupational safety
Keep your workplace tidy. Tools have their place, waste goes in the bin, packaging is disposed of immediately. Spills — oil, water, coolant — are cleaned up immediately, not after the break; until then, mark the spot with a warning sign. Slip-resistant floors (classified in R classes under DGUV Regel 108-003) only help when they are clean.
Traffic routes and escape routes
Traffic routes (ASR A1.8) are often marked; the marking means: nothing is put down here, not even for five minutes. Vehicles and pedestrians share these routes — never walk behind a reversing forklift, and stop at crossings and gates. Escape and rescue routes (ASR A2.3) and emergency exits must be clear and easy to open at all times; a blocked escape route is deadly in a fire. Report trip hazards, loose floor plates and defective lighting to your supervisor.
Remember
Roughly one in five occupational accidents is a slip, trip or fall. Clean up spills immediately, never block traffic routes and escape routes.
Typical mistake: The pallet stands in the escape route “only until the forklift comes”. The forklift comes in two hours, the fire in ten minutes.
Reporting defects — and to whom
A defect you see and do not report becomes your defect from that moment on.
Report without delay
§ 16 of the Arbeitsschutzgesetz obliges you to report every immediate serious hazard and every defect in protective systems without delay — a missing guard, an emergency stop that does not trigger, a damaged lifting sling, a blocked emergency exit, a cable with exposed insulation. Your first contact is your direct supervisor. Reporting means not only saying it but making sure it arrives: if nothing happens, ask again. Until the defect is fixed, do not use the equipment, and mark it so that others do not either.
Who else is there
- Safety representatives (§ 22 SGB VII, § 20 DGUV Vorschrift 1): mandatory in companies with more than 20 employees. These are colleagues from your own area, in an honorary role, without authority to give orders — but with the task of spotting defects and supporting you. Often the shortest route.
- Occupational safety specialist (Fachkraft für Arbeitssicherheit, SiFa) and company doctor: under the Arbeitssicherheitsgesetz and DGUV Vorschrift 2, every company must have safety and occupational-medical support — even the small one, then usually external. Both advise; turn to them with questions about hazards, check-ups and ergonomics.
- Works council, if there is one: it has a co-determination right in occupational safety and is your contact if you cannot get through internally.
Who these people are in your company and where to reach them belongs in Module 17 — and on the notice boards.
Remember
Report defects to your supervisor without delay and do not use the equipment until it is repaired. Safety representatives from more than 20 employees; occupational safety specialist and company doctor support every company.
Typical mistake: “They already know.” Usually they don't. And if they do, a second report does no harm — a missing one does.
Machines, safety guards and emergency stop
Machines do not forgive shortcuts. Every guard is there because someone was injured before.
Only after a briefing, only as intended
You operate only machines on which you have received a hands-on briefing, and only as the operating instruction specifies (§ 6 BetrSichV: intended use). Before starting: a visual check — are all guards present and in position? Is the work area clear? Close-fitting clothing, no jewellery, no rings, long hair tied back. At rotating parts — drill press, lathe, shaft — no gloves: they get caught, and the hand with them.
Guards and interlocks
Guards, light curtains, two-hand controls and interlocked doors must never be removed, bypassed or disabled — not even “just briefly”, not even because it makes the work faster (§ 17 DGUV Vorschrift 1, § 8 BetrSichV). A machine whose guard is missing or does not work is not used but reported. Pay attention to how interlocks work: a door that stops the machine when opened does stop it — but the shaft runs on. Wait for standstill.
Emergency stop
You must know the emergency stop — red mushroom button on a yellow field — at every machine before you switch it on. It is for emergencies, not for normal switching off. After it has been triggered it stays locked; unlock and restart only once the cause has been removed.
Faults and maintenance
Never reach into a running machine — not even to free a jammed part. Faults are cleared only on the stopped machine that is secured against restart (main switch off, lock, tag). Retooling, maintenance and repair are reserved for qualified staff (§ 10 BetrSichV). If you are not authorised for it, keep your hands off.
Remember
No machine without a briefing, no guard disabled, never reach into a running machine. Know the emergency stop. Faults only at standstill with the main switch secured, repairs only by qualified staff.
Typical mistake: The guard is tied up with a cable tie “because otherwise you can't see anything”. That is not a trick, that is tomorrow's accident report.
Work equipment, ladders, work platforms and scaffolds
A tool that is not in order is not a tool but a hazard with a handle.
Perfect condition, used for its purpose
Use work equipment — hand tools, electrical devices, ladders, lifting gear — only in perfect condition and for its purpose. A screwdriver is not a chisel, a forklift is not a personnel lift, an office chair is not a ladder. Before every use: a short visual check. Defective equipment is marked, taken out of use and reported. Electrical devices with a damaged cable or plug are out of service immediately.
Ladders — the underestimated fall hazard
Falls from ladders are among the most serious accidents of all. TRBS 2121 Part 2 therefore sets clear limits: a ladder as a workplace is permitted only up to 2 m standing height. Between 2 and 5 m only for short tasks — as a guide no longer than 2 hours per shift — and above that not at all; then you need a scaffold, a work platform or an aerial work platform. For leaning ladders: leaning angle 65 to 75 degrees, check stability, secure the ladder against slipping, and as an access route let it protrude at least 1 m above the landing point. Never use a stepladder as a leaning ladder and do not stand on the top rungs. Climb facing the ladder, both hands free.
Scaffolds and work platforms
A scaffold is entered only when it has been inspected and released (tag at the access). You change nothing on it — no planks removed, no guardrail unhooked, no anchor loosened. If a side guard is missing or something looks damaged: do not enter, report it. Aerial work platforms and work platforms on a forklift only with a briefing and written authorisation.
Remember
Work equipment only in perfect condition and for its purpose. Ladder as a workplace up to 2 m, between 2 and 5 m only briefly (up to 2 hours), above that never. Leaning angle 65–75°, 1 m overhang. Scaffolds only after release.
Typical mistake: The stepladder is folded and leaned against the wall because the leaning ladder is somewhere else. Two metres later it is a trip to hospital.
Moving loads: by hand, with a crane and with a forklift
When moving loads, it is not strength that counts but the view — and who is allowed at the controls at all.
By hand
When carrying, your field of view must stay clear — whoever cannot see the step falls. Lift with your legs, straight back, load close to the body, no twisting. The Lastenhandhabungsverordnung (Manual Handling Ordinance) requires that heavy loads are moved with aids wherever possible: pallet truck, sack truck, rollers, lifting aid. Carrying in pairs is not a sign of weakness. Loads with sharp edges only with gloves.
With a crane
Heavy loads are moved with a crane — and only by people who are authorised for it. § 29 DGUV Vorschrift 52: crane operators must be at least 18 years old, suitable, instructed and authorised by the employer. For everyone else: never stand under suspended loads, and the crane operator must not move loads over people (§ 30 DGUV Vorschrift 52). Check lifting accessories — chains, ropes, slings — before every use; discard damaged ones immediately. When setting down, make sure the load is stable: level, load-bearing ground, supports, and secure the load against falling, tipping and rolling — wedges, trestles, lashing straps.
With a forklift
Forklifts are the deadliest machine in the warehouse. Only someone who, under § 7 DGUV Vorschrift 68, is at least 18 years old, has proven competence (training under DGUV Grundsatz 308-001, the “forklift licence”) and is authorised in writing by the employer may drive. No authorisation, no driving — not even “just to move it”. For pedestrians: keep your distance, seek eye contact with the driver, never step beside or behind a moving forklift, never ride on the forks.
Remember
Clear field of view, back-friendly lifting, use aids. Never under suspended loads. Set loads down stably and secure them. Crane and forklift only from 18 with proven competence and written authorisation.
Typical mistake: “I used to drive forklifts” — without a current authorisation from this company that is driving without a licence, with all the consequences after an accident.
Personal protective equipment: wear it, check it, look after it
Personal protective equipment is the last safety net. It only holds if you wear it.
Why PPE is the last step
Occupational safety follows a hierarchy: avoid the hazard, then protect technically (extraction, guard), then organisationally (distance, time limits), and only then personally — the PPE. It protects only the person wearing it, and only if it fits and is in good condition. That is why PPE is no substitute for a missing guard but a supplement.
A duty for both sides
The employer provides PPE free of charge (§ 3(3) ArbSchG, PSA-BV) and defines in the risk assessment where which equipment is worn. Under § 30 DGUV Vorschrift 1 you are obliged to use it as intended — not only when someone is watching. Mandatory signs (blue, round) at the entrance to an area tell you what is required there.
The most important items
- Safety shoes under DIN EN ISO 20345: the toe cap withstands 200 joules — a 20-kilogram weight from one metre. S1 for dry indoor areas, S3 additionally penetration-resistant and water-repellent for outdoor and construction areas.
- Safety goggles for chips, sparks, splashes, dust — and when working overhead. Ordinary glasses are not safety goggles.
- Protective gloves matching the hazard (cut, chemical, heat); not at rotating machine parts.
- Safety helmet where loads are moved overhead or there is a risk of bumping.
- Hearing protection — Module 10 says from when it is mandatory.
Check and look after
Before every use, a glance: goggles scratched, glove worn through, shoe with a broken cap? Then have it replaced. PPE is cared for, stored properly and not shared where hygiene matters (earplugs, respiratory protection).
Remember
PPE is the last step, no substitute for guards. The employer provides it free of charge, you must wear it. Toe cap 200 joules. Check before use, report defects immediately.
Typical mistake: The goggles sit on the forehead “because they fog up”. Fogged goggles are replaced — goggles on the forehead protect nobody.
Noise and hearing protection
Noise does not hurt. That is what makes it so dangerous: hearing is lost quietly, and it does not come back.
Two numbers you must know
The Lärm- und Vibrations-Arbeitsschutzverordnung (Noise and Vibration Ordinance) works with action values for the daily noise exposure level:
| Value | What applies from here |
|---|---|
| 80 dB(A) (lower action value) | The employer must provide hearing protection, instruct on the hazard and offer an occupational medical check-up. |
| 85 dB(A) (upper action value) | Wearing hearing protection is mandatory, the area is marked as a noise area (mandatory sign “hearing protection”), compulsory check-up under the ArbMedVV, and the employer must set up a noise reduction programme. |
For peak levels — hammer blow, compressed air, shot — 135 and 137 dB(C) apply in addition.
The rule of thumb
You do not carry a sound level meter. But: if you can only make yourself understood to someone at one metre distance by raising your voice or shouting, the level is usually above 85 dB(A). Then hearing protection — even without a sign.
Why it is serious
Noise-induced hearing loss (BK No. 2301) has for years been one of the most frequently recognised occupational diseases in Germany. It does not come from one loud day but from a thousand loud days without earplugs. And it is incurable.
Wearing it correctly
Hearing protection only works when it is worn the whole time: whoever works one hour out of eight without protection loses most of the protective effect. Insert earplugs correctly (pull the ear up and back), fit earmuffs tightly, no spectacle arms or caps under the seal. Hearing protection is personal — do not swap it.
Remember
From 80 dB(A) hearing protection must be available, from 85 dB(A) you must wear it. Rule of thumb: shouting at one metre means hearing protection. All or nothing — one hour without costs almost the entire protective effect.
Typical mistake: “Just a few minutes at the saw.” Those count too — and a peak level can damage hearing in seconds.
Working substances and skin protection
The skin is the largest organ — and in the company the one most often injured without anyone reporting it as an accident.
Proper handling of working substances
Cleaners, oils, coolants, adhesives, paints, solvents: each of these substances carries a label (the red-and-white GHS diamonds) and, if it is hazardous, an operating instruction under § 14 of the Gefahrstoffverordnung (Hazardous Substances Ordinance) — it hangs at the workplace and says which hazard exists, which protective measures apply and what to do in an emergency. Read it before the first use. The rules:
- Use only from labelled original containers.
- Never decant into food containers — the water bottle with thinner is a classic with serious consequences.
- Do not mix substances unless the operating instruction provides for it.
- Keep containers closed, take up spills immediately, cloths with oil or solvent into the container provided.
- Wash hands before eating, drinking, smoking.
Whoever regularly works with hazardous substances needs more than this module: the Academy's online course “Hazardous substances” (in German) covers the safety data sheet, pictograms, H and P statements and limit values in 16 modules.
The skin protection plan
Wet hands, gloves for hours, oils, cleaners — this destroys the skin's protective layer, and skin diseases are among the most frequent suspected occupational diseases reported. TRGS 401 therefore requires a skin protection plan that hangs at the washing area and names three steps:
| Step | When | With what |
|---|---|---|
| Skin protection | before work and after every break | protective cream matching the substance (water-soluble / not water-soluble) |
| Skin cleaning | when soiled, before breaks and after work | as mild as possible, no solvents, no abrasives unless necessary |
| Skin care | after work | care cream so that the skin regenerates |
Use the products named in the plan — not those from the drugstore. And do not wear gloves longer than necessary; moisture builds up underneath.
Remember
Observe labelling and operating instructions, decant nothing, mix nothing. Skin protection plan: protect before work, clean when needed, care afterwards.
Typical mistake: “Cleaning” hands with thinner because it is faster. That dissolves the grease — and the skin barrier with it.
Safety signs: reading colours and shapes
Signs are the language in which a company speaks to you when nobody is around. You must be able to read them — even without text.
Six types, five shapes, five colours
ASR A1.3 and DIN EN ISO 7010 define what safety signs look like. Shape and colour tell you what it is about before you recognise the symbol:
| Sign | Shape and colour | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prohibition sign | round, red border, red diagonal bar, white background, black symbol | This behaviour is forbidden | No smoking, No access, Not drinking water |
| Mandatory sign | round, blue, white symbol | This behaviour is required | Wear hearing protection, Wear helmet, Wear safety shoes |
| Warning sign | triangle, yellow, black border and symbol | A hazard exists here | Electrical voltage, Industrial trucks, Suspended load, Hot surface |
| Emergency sign | rectangular or square, green, white symbol | Route to safety or rescue equipment | Emergency exit, Assembly point, First aid, Eyewash station |
| Fire safety sign | rectangular or square, red, white symbol | Location of fire-fighting equipment | Fire extinguisher, Fire alarm, Fire hose |
| Hazard pictogram (GHS) | diamond, red border, white background, black symbol | Hazard property of a substance | Corrosive, Toxic, Flammable, Harmful |
In short: red forbids or extinguishes, blue commands, yellow warns, green rescues.
What this means for you
In marked areas you behave according to the sign — a mandatory sign at the hall gate is not a recommendation but an order from that point on. Signs must not be covered, obstructed or removed; report missing or illegible signs. If you are unsure what a sign means, ask your supervisor or the safety representative — do not guess. Escape route signs always point in the direction you run in an emergency; memorise the nearest route from your workplace.
Remember
Round red = prohibition, round blue = mandatory, yellow triangle = warning, green = rescue, red square = fire safety, diamond = hazardous substance. In marked areas the sign applies — without exception.
Typical mistake: The mandatory sign “hearing protection” hangs at the gate and nobody wears any “because only the small saw is running today”. The sign applies to the area, not to the mood of the day.
Alcohol, drugs, smoking, eating and drinking
A beer at lunch used to be normal. Today it is an accident risk — and a legal problem for you.
Alcohol and drugs
§ 15(2) DGUV Vorschrift 1: you must not put yourself, through alcohol, drugs or other intoxicating substances, into a state in which you could endanger yourself or others. This applies to work and to the way there. Many companies additionally have a company alcohol rule — often an absolute ban (0.0 per mille) on the premises and on business trips; which one applies to you is in Module 17. The same applies to medication under paragraph 3: whoever takes medicines that impair reaction or attention (package leaflet!) tells the supervisor before going to a machine, crane or wheel. The employer must not employ people who are visibly unable to do their work safely (§ 7(2) DGUV Vorschrift 1) — and whoever is sent home drunk must not drive alone.
Smoking
Smoking is allowed only where it is expressly permitted. There are two reasons: the protection of non-smokers (§ 5 Arbeitsstättenverordnung) — and fire and explosion protection. In the warehouse, near solvents, gas cylinders, paint shops or wood dust, a smoking ban is not politeness but protection of life. The prohibition signs “No smoking” and “No open flames, fire or smoking” apply without exception. E-cigarettes are equally banned in such areas.
Eating and drinking
Eating and drinking take place only in the places designated for it — break room, canteen. In work areas with hazardous substances it is expressly forbidden: oil and solvent residues, dusts and chips otherwise end up in the mouth via the hands. Wash hands before eating (skin protection plan, Module 11). Drinking at hot workplaces is important — but from the clean bottle in the break area, not from the cup next to the coolant.
The consequences
Breaches of these rules are no trivial matter: they can have consequences under employment law — a written warning, in repeated or serious cases dismissal — and after an accident they affect insurance cover and the question of liability.
Remember
No alcohol, no drugs, no impairing medication without consulting. Smoking only in smoking areas, eating and drinking only in the designated places. Breaches have consequences under employment law.
Typical mistake: The cold remedy that “may impair the ability to react” — and then onto the forklift. Read the leaflet and talk to your supervisor.
First aid, fire protection, escape and rescue routes
Two topics you hopefully never need — and which are repeated every year for exactly that reason.
First aid
Do you know who the first aider on your shift is and where the first-aid kit hangs? If not, that is the first question after this course. The emergency number 112 applies throughout Europe; the five W questions — Where did it happen, What happened, How many injured, What kind of injuries, Wait for questions — the control centre will take you through them if you stay calm and do not hang up. Every first-aid measure, even a plaster, is recorded in the first-aid logbook — this secures your insurance cover if the small wound turns into an infection (§ 24 DGUV Vorschrift 1, kept for five years).
Fire protection
Where is the nearest fire extinguisher to your workplace, and do you know how it works (pull the pin, hose at the base of the fire, press the lever, from bottom to top, with the wind)? In a fire, the order of the fire safety regulations (DIN 14096) applies: stay calm — raise the alarm (fire alarm or 112) — warn endangered persons and take them with you — attempt to extinguish only an incipient fire, without endangering yourself — otherwise leave the area, close doors but do not lock them. No lifts. Rescuing people comes before fighting the fire. Never put out a fat fire with water.
Escape and rescue routes
Escape and rescue routes and emergency exits must, under ASR A2.3, be clear and easy to open at all times. For you this means: put nothing in front of them, store nothing in them, never lock or block emergency exits — not even “against theft”. The escape and rescue plan hangs in the building; look at it once before you need it. In an emergency, go to the assembly point and report to your supervisor so that it can be established whether everyone is out. Nobody goes back into the building.
The Academy offers first aid and fire protection as a separate free course with 18 modules (in German) — from the emergency call to resuscitation under the 2025 ERC guidelines. If your company uses it in addition: all the better.
Remember
Know the first aiders, first-aid kit, fire extinguishers and assembly point. Emergency call 112. Alert, warn, rescue — extinguish only an incipient fire. Never block or lock escape routes and emergency exits.
Typical mistake: The emergency exit is wedged shut “because of the draught” and secured with a pallet. In a fire, that is a wall.
Occupational accident, commuting accident, occupational disease — and what to do then
You are insured — automatically, free of contributions and from your first day at work. But the cover only works if the accident finds its way into the file.
Who insures you
Every employee is insured in the statutory accident insurance with the competent Berufsgenossenschaft (BG, accident insurance institution) or public accident insurer (SGB VII). The contributions are paid solely by the employer (§ 150 SGB VII). Insured are occupational accidents, commuting accidents on the direct way between home and work (detours only in narrow exceptions, e.g. to the day-care centre) and occupational diseases — diseases listed in the occupational diseases list and caused by the work, for example noise-induced hearing loss or skin diseases. The insurance pays for treatment, rehabilitation, injury benefit and, for permanent damage, a pension. Which Berufsgenossenschaft is responsible is on the notice board — with address and telephone number.
What you do after an accident
- First aid and, if necessary, emergency call 112.
- Inform your supervisor immediately — also for minor injuries and also for commuting accidents. An unreported accident is hard to prove later.
- Entry in the first-aid logbook: date, what happened, injury, witnesses. The company keeps this for five years (§ 24(6) DGUV Vorschrift 1).
- See the Durchgangsarzt (D-Arzt, accident insurance consultant) if you are unfit for work beyond the day of the accident or treatment is expected to last more than a week. Not your GP — the D-Arzt is approved by the Berufsgenossenschaft and manages the procedure. Where the nearest D-Arzt practice is, is on the notice board and in Module 17.
- Accident report: if you are unfit for work for more than three days, the employer must report the accident to the Berufsgenossenschaft within three days (§ 193 SGB VII). Your company does this — but only if it knows.
Suspected occupational disease
A rash on the hands that gets better at the weekend? Hearing loss after years at the press? Back pain from constant lifting? Speak immediately to your supervisor and the company doctor. Every doctor must report a suspected occupational disease; the earlier, the sooner the cause can be removed and the damage limited.
And if you do not follow the rules
The Berufsgenossenschaft pays even if it was your own fault. But: in case of intent or gross negligence it can claim the money back from you (§ 110 SGB VII). And under employment law, unsafe behaviour can lead to a written warning and dismissal.
Remember
Every accident — also the small one, also on the way to work — immediately to the supervisor, entry in the first-aid logbook, if unfit for work to the D-Arzt. Unfit for more than 3 days: accident report within 3 days. Report a suspected occupational disease immediately.
Typical mistake: The small cut is not recorded, “it's nothing”. Three weeks later it is infected, and nobody can prove it happened at work.
Case study: the first day in production
Everything from the first 15 modules in a single day — the way it actually happens in many companies.
The situation
Monday, 7 a.m. You are starting in production. The supervisor is in a meeting and says in passing: “Mehmet will show you everything.” Mehmet has been here for twelve years, friendly and under time pressure.
The decision path
| Situation | Right | Wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Mehmet wants to start straight away, no walk-through | Insist on the walk-through: emergency exits, first-aid kit, fire extinguishers, assembly point, first aiders — and the instruction with signature before you start (§ 12 ArbSchG) | Accept “I'll show you later” and start |
| “Stand at the circular saw, it's really simple” | Not without a briefing at the machine. Friendly but clear: “I haven't been briefed on this one.” | Start working so as not to look anxious |
| The saw's guard is tied up with a cable tie | Report it, do not use the machine until the guard works (§ 16 ArbSchG) | “Everyone here does it like that” |
| Mehmet: “You don't need goggles, it only takes two minutes” | Wear the goggles — the mandatory sign applies, the instruction is unsafe (§ 15 DGUV Vorschrift 1) | Two minutes without goggles — the chip takes a second |
| A pallet stands in the marked escape route in front of the emergency exit | Move it or have it moved — immediately | Step over it because it will be “collected shortly” |
| Oil spill on the floor next to the press | Clean it up immediately or cordon it off and put up a warning sign | Do it after the break |
| Mandatory sign “hearing protection” at the hall gate, Mehmet wears none | Wear hearing protection — the sign applies to the area, not to the mood of the day | “If he doesn't wear any, I don't need any either” |
| You cut your hand while unpacking, small wound | First-aid kit, entry in the first-aid logbook, inform the supervisor | Plaster from your pocket, tell nobody |
| Mehmet walks under a pallet on the crane | Speak up — never under suspended loads; do not follow the same route | Follow him because he knows what he is doing |
| End of the day, supervisor asks: “Everything OK?” | Raise the four points: instruction missing, guard, pallet, alcohol rule still unclear | “All good” |
What this day shows
None of this needs expert knowledge. It needs the willingness to be inconvenient on the first day — to ask, to report, to say no. That is exactly what the company expects from you, even if Mehmet sets a different example. And: Mehmet did not tie up the guard out of malice, but because nobody reported it. You are now the one who reports it.
Remember
Insist on the walk-through and instruction before the first task. No machine without a briefing. Report defects immediately, do not follow unsafe instructions, signs apply, escape routes clear, every wound in the first-aid logbook.
Typical mistake: The new colleague adopts the habits of the experienced one — and with them the risks the experienced one has only survived by luck for years.
Procedure in our company: walk-through and contact persons
Your company completes this module — on site, with your supervisor. The general part of this instruction ends here. What follows now, only your company knows, and no online course can show it to you.
Important
This online course does not replace the instruction at your workplace. The workplace-specific instruction — machines, hazards, locations, contact persons — must be carried out in the company and documented with your signature on the instruction record (§ 12 ArbSchG, § 4 DGUV Vorschrift 1).
The walk-through
You get to know your work area on a joint walk-through with your supervisor. On this walk-through you are shown the facilities for safety and health. Tick off what you have seen:
| Facility | Seen | Where exactly |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency exits and escape and rescue plan | ☐ | |
| Assembly point | ☐ | |
| First-aid notice (first aiders, D-Arzt, Berufsgenossenschaft) | ☐ | |
| Telephone for emergency calls / internal emergency number | ☐ | |
| First-aid kit and first-aid logbook | ☐ | |
| Fire extinguishers and fire alarms | ☐ | |
| Emergency stop on the machines in your area | ☐ | |
| Personal protective equipment — issue, storage | ☐ | |
| Skin protection plan at the washing area | ☐ | |
| Changing rooms, toilets, break room | ☐ | |
| Smoking area (if any) | ☐ |
Who is who?
| Function | Name | Location / telephone |
|---|---|---|
| Owner / management | ||
| Direct supervisor | ||
| Safety representative | ||
| First aiders (per shift) | ||
| Company doctor | ||
| Occupational safety specialist | ||
| Works council (if any) | ||
| Durchgangsarzt (nearest D-Arzt practice) |
Company rules
| Rule | What applies here |
|---|---|
| Alcohol rule (0.0 per mille?) | |
| Smoking — where allowed | |
| Eating and drinking — where allowed | |
| Which PPE is mandatory in your area | |
| Which machines you may operate (briefing given on …) | |
| Crane / forklift — authorisation yes/no | |
| Noise areas in your work area | |
| Special features of your company (hazardous substances, shift work, outdoor areas, public traffic …) |
For management
This module is your instruction record for the workplace-specific part: carry out the walk-through, complete the tables, have both sides sign, file it together with the certificate. If a line stays empty, that is where the company still has something to do.
Keeping records and repetition
Finally, the question asked in every audit and after every accident: how do you prove that this instruction took place?
What makes the record
An instruction must be documented. The record consists of the date, the names of the participants, the content and proof of participation. Your certificate contains exactly that for the general part: name, course, date, result, the 18 training contents and a certificate number with which its authenticity can be verified on the Academy's verification page. For the workplace-specific part — Module 17 — the classic instruction record with signatures of the instructor and the instructed person remains. Both together make the complete basic instruction. The record is kept by the employer; keep a copy for your own files as well.
How often
At least once a year (§ 4 DGUV Vorschrift 1), young workers at least every six months (§ 29 JArbSchG). In addition whenever there is cause: hiring, transfer, new machine or procedure, new hazardous substances, after an accident or near miss, when regulations change. A new forklift is a cause. A new colleague is too.
Who must take part
All employees — expressly including part-time staff, apprentices, temporary helpers, interns and temporary agency workers: in temporary agency work, the duty to instruct lies with the hirer, i.e. the company where the work is done (§ 12(2) ArbSchG). Contractors on the premises must at least be instructed on local hazards, escape routes and the assembly point.
What you should take with you
This instruction conveys the rules. Whether they work is decided at your workplace: on the walk-through you insist on, the defect you report, the instruction you refuse, and the hearing protection you wear even when nobody is watching.
Remember
Certificate = general part, signed instruction record = workplace-specific part. Both once a year, young workers every six months, and whenever there is cause. All employees including temporary agency workers.
Typical mistake: The certificate is in the folder, the walk-through never took place. In the audit this means: instruction incomplete.
Final test
23 questions, one correct answer each. You need 17 correct answers to pass (70 %). Scoring happens on the server — there is no answer key on this page.
Your result
Certificate on LinkedIn
How helpful was this course?
Should your colleagues take it too?
Pass the course link on – free, no registration. With a company code all certificates end up in the same company account.
What happens next
Company-specific supplementary part: Module 17 "Procedure in our company" with your contact persons, locations, machines and company rules — as a fixed-price customisation for your company.
Instruction record in an ISO 9001 or ISO 45001 system: Instruction plan, training records and risk assessment as documented information — we set it up with you.
More free training courses are available in the Online Academy (German). Questions about implementation in your company: use the contact form.
Questions about the content of this training: Holger.grosser@iso9001.info · phone 0911-49522541. Online training fulfils the legal training duty only if you can ask the trainer questions.