UVV Inspection
The term UVV is a colloquial abbreviation for Unfallverhütungsvorschrift, which translates to accident prevention regulations. The Operational Safety Ordinance (BetrSichV) consolidates all occupational safety regulations related to the use of work equipment and the management of monitoring systems. The accident prevention regulations outline the measures necessary for the safe handling and operation of equipment. These regulations establish the minimum standards that must be met to ensure the safety of employees and the workplace.
The accident prevention regulations of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) require that all lifting equipment, cranes, load-handling devices, and slings be inspected annually by a qualified person.
What Is the Purpose of the UVV Inspection?
Working with and operating machines are routine activities. To ensure their functionality and safety over the long term, they must be regularly inspected. The Operational Safety Ordinance (BetrSichV) and the accident prevention regulations (UVV) prescribe specific inspection intervals to protect individuals in this field. The goal is to identify potential defects early so they can be corrected before they cause accidents. While this might seem straightforward, it is often more complex. In most cases, the manufacturer has established maintenance intervals during which equipment inspections are necessary to maintain functionality. These inspections also verify compliance with the accident prevention regulations (UVV) and the Operational Safety Ordinance (BetrSichV).
What Is Specifically Inspected According to UVV?
The inspection of work equipment, such as machines and systems that can wear out with use or whose safety depends on installation conditions, must be conducted regularly and before initial operation to comply with technical regulations. During an inspection, the following points are addressed:
Settings Critical for Safe Operation: These include the essential settings that must be maintained to ensure the safe operation of system components.
Safety-Related Components: This covers components responsible for safety, such as light barriers, sensors, emergency stops, interlocks, and warning devices.
Wear-Prone Components: This includes parts that are particularly susceptible to wear, such as brakes, tires, load-bearing components, and couplings.
Suitability of Equipment for Work: This refers to the appropriateness and safety of equipment like forklifts, cranes, and freight elevators for their intended use.
These inspections are crucial to ensuring the ongoing safety and functionality of work equipment, thereby preventing accidents and ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
Who Is Authorized to Conduct the UVV Inspection?
According to the UVV, only a qualified or competent person is authorized to conduct the inspection. A competent person is defined as someone who has undergone training, possesses expert knowledge, or performs a job that ensures the required understanding. A competent person typically has received technical or product-specific training. Additionally, a qualified inspector must be familiar with all relevant regulations, ordinances, guidelines, standards, and requirements. Therefore, UVV inspectors are often external experts. The inspection by a competent person is crucial for identifying potential defects and ensuring workplace safety.
A company can choose to have the UVV inspection performed by a qualified employee or by a specialized external service provider like SNI Nord.
Who Must Have a UVV Inspection Conducted?
The UVV inspection is a critical measure for ensuring occupational safety and health protection. This inspection applies to all work equipment used in companies to ensure that they meet the requirements of accident prevention regulations (UVV).
Employers must have a UVV inspection conducted if work equipment is used that is potentially dangerous and could cause accidents. Examples of such equipment include machines, tools, transport vehicles, or lifting devices. The inspection must be performed regularly to ensure that the equipment is safe and functional.
There are specific industries where a UVV inspection is legally required. For example, operators of elevators, escalators, and similar facilities must regularly undergo inspections to ensure compliance with legal requirements. Regular inspections are also mandated in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, as well as in the food industry.
Contents of UVV Inspector Training Courses
Legal Foundations: UVV inspectors must be knowledgeable about the legal frameworks and regulations related to occupational safety and health protection.
Work Equipment and Environments: UVV inspectors learn how to inspect various types of work equipment and environments, including machines, electrical installations, load-handling devices, hazardous substances, and workplace safety.
Inspection Methods: UVV inspectors must master various inspection methods to ensure that equipment is safe. These include visual inspections, functional tests, measurements, and documentation obligations.
Risk Assessment: UVV inspectors learn how to identify and assess risks in work environments and with work equipment to prevent potential accidents and ensure workplace safety.
Maintenance and Repairs: UVV inspectors must understand how to carry out maintenance and repair measures to ensure compliance with technical regulations.
Safety Management: UVV inspectors are trained to implement and manage effective safety management systems to create safer working environments.
Inspection Documentation: UVV inspectors must be able to produce precise documentation of their inspections to ensure compliance with all legal requirements and regulations.
What Documentation Is Required for UVV Inspections?
According to the regulations of the UVV inspection, it is also necessary to maintain an inspection logbook and create an inspection report. The following information is recorded and documented in this report:
Scope of the Inspection: Details about the extent of the inspection.
Inspection Date: The exact date when the inspection was carried out.
Identified Defects and Other Findings: Any issues or results discovered during the inspection.
Assessment: Whether continued operation is possible and any concerns regarding safety.
Date of Reinspection: If necessary, the date when a follow-up inspection is required.
Inspector’s Information: The name and details of the inspector or qualified person who conducted the inspection.
Any defects discovered during the inspection must be corrected immediately. The inspection is considered complete once all equipment has been inspected, and a sticker with the inspector’s initials has been affixed to each piece of equipment. This sticker will also indicate the next due date for the inspection. The inspection certificate is copied and attached to the relevant work equipment or machinery. If required by the responsible accident insurance association, appropriate proof must be provided. Equipment without a sticker should not be used further until it has passed inspection.
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