German Cabinet’s Office-Safety Easing Sparks DGUV Concern Over Electrical Risks

Germany's statutory accident insurers oppose a government plan to relax inspection rules for low-risk office devices, citing safety risks and potential insurance complications despite estimated €720M annual savings.

Germany’s statutory accident insurers are pushing back against a government plan to loosen inspection rules for office electronics, warning the cost-cutting move could open safety gaps. The German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) said it supports the goal of more practical regulations, but insists the current level of protection must not drop. Every year around 2,500 workplace accidents involving electric current occur in the country – some fatal – and between 2020 and 2024 the DGUV counted 12,800 such incidents in total.

The federal cabinet approved on Thursday a second package of ten measures aimed at cutting red tape. The core change eliminates mandatory periodic checks for low-risk devices such as kettles, charging cables and similar office appliances. Under the old rules, all electrical equipment faced rigid inspection intervals regardless of actual danger. The government estimates the reform will save businesses roughly 720 million euros annually, freeing up resources to concentrate on installations with genuine hazard potential.

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While easing inspection rules may cut costs, it also raises the risk of undetected electrical hazards. Employers should ensure their risk assessments remain up to date even as regulations change. A free Risk Assessment Toolkit provides 41 ready-to-use templates and checklists to help document workplace risks in compliance with current standards. Download the free Risk Assessment Toolkit

Despite the apparent simplification, implementing the relaxation is legally tricky. The DGUV is a self-governing body, so the federal government cannot simply dictate new requirements. Instead, the decision rests with the organisation’s parity committees, which include equal numbers of employer and employee representatives. The DGUV is currently modernising its own sets of rules – known as DGUV Vorschriften 3 and 4 – after the Federal Ministry of Labour pushed for simpler and more digital-friendly rules. The insurer notes that even under existing rules, inspection intervals can already be tailored to individual workplace conditions.

A further complication comes from outside the world of labour insurance. Private property insurers may continue to demand regular equipment checks as a condition of coverage, given that nearly one-third of all building fires in Germany are traced back to faulty electrical devices. Companies could therefore face higher premiums or denied claims if they scale back inspections too quickly.

The loosening has almost no effect on high-risk settings such as commercial kitchens in the hospitality sector. Those environments remain subject to strict control obligations. The government and the DGUV advise businesses not to adjust any inspection schedules until binding legal texts have been published; until then, the old deadlines still apply.