Ladder & Step Inspector
Recurring inspection of ladders and steps for defects, labelling, and load capacity. A competent person appointed under the Industrial Safety Ordinance, documenting each check per TRBS 1203.
BetrSichV · DGUV Information 208-016 · TRBS 1203
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What does a Ladder & Step Inspector do?
A Ladder and Step Inspector is a competent person (befähigte Person) appointed by the employer to carry out the recurring inspection of ladders and steps as work equipment. The legal anchor is the Betriebssicherheitsverordnung (BetrSichV), which requires work equipment to be inspected by a competent person at intervals derived from the risk assessment under § 3 and § 14 BetrSichV. The qualification of a competent person is defined in TRBS 1203, and the practical inspection content follows DGUV Information 208-016.
The inspector examines each ladder and step for defects: cracked or bent stiles and rungs, missing or worn feet, loose fittings, defective spreaders or locking devices, and damaged or missing labelling. They assess load capacity and check that the type of ladder still matches its use. Each ladder receives an unambiguous identifier so findings can be traced over time, and the result is recorded as pass, repair, or withdrawal from use.
The role does not require a formal exam, but the competent person must have the technical training, professional experience, and current knowledge of the relevant rules demanded by TRBS 1203. The employer remains responsible for selecting a genuinely suitable person and for ensuring defective equipment is taken out of service. Inspection is part of the broader duty under § 4 ArbSchG to provide safe work equipment, and ladders are also covered by DGUV Vorschrift 1 and the general accident-prevention regime.
Core duties of the Ladder & Step Inspector
- Carry out the recurring inspection of ladders and steps as a competent person under BetrSichV § 14.
- Set or confirm inspection intervals derived from the risk assessment per BetrSichV § 3.
- Inspect stiles, rungs, feet, fittings, spreaders, and locking devices per DGUV Information 208-016.
- Check labelling, load rating, and suitability of the ladder type for its use.
- Assign a unique identifier to each ladder to enable traceability over its life.
- Document each inspection with date, result, and any defects per TRBS 1203.
- Tag defective ladders and remove them from use until repaired or scrapped.
- Decide on repair, replacement, or withdrawal and record the decision.
- Maintain the inspection register and make it available to the supervisory authority.
- Advise the employer on safe storage and on user instruction under § 12 ArbSchG.
When is a competent person for ladders required?
The Betriebssicherheitsverordnung requires every employer who provides ladders and steps as work equipment to have them inspected by a competent person. The risk assessment under § 3 BetrSichV determines the inspection interval; for ladders in normal use this is commonly set at once per year, though heavy use, harsh environments, or higher-risk applications justify shorter intervals. There is no fixed statutory interval, so the assessment must be documented.
A competent person must meet the criteria of TRBS 1203: a suitable technical education, recent and relevant professional experience with the equipment, and up-to-date knowledge of the applicable rules. No certification body issues a licence; the employer appoints the person and bears responsibility for that choice. The appointment should be documented, and many employers send staff to a one or two-day course following DGUV Information 208-016 to demonstrate the required knowledge. The inspection itself, its result, and the identity of the inspector must be recorded and kept for the supervisory authority.
- Ladders or steps provided as work equipment (BetrSichV)
- Inspection interval derived from the risk assessment (BetrSichV § 3)
- Competent person qualified per TRBS 1203
- Inspection content per DGUV Information 208-016
- Heavy use or harsh environment shortens the interval
Where ladder inspection applies
- Construction and trades
- Facility management
- Retail and warehousing
- Manufacturing and assembly
- Utilities and energy
- Agriculture and forestry
- Hospitality and events
- Public buildings and schools
How CIVAC supports the Ladder & Step Inspector role
CIVAC turns the recurring ladder inspection into a managed cycle. Each ladder is an asset record with its unique identifier; an inspection task template captures the BetrSichV and DGUV Information 208-016 checklist, the result, and any defect, so nothing is missed. Reminders fire ahead of the interval set in the risk assessment, so the annual check is never overdue. Defects spawn follow-up tasks to repair or withdraw the ladder, with a full audit trail of who inspected, who decided, and when. The documentation pillar holds the appointment of the competent person and the TRBS 1203 qualification evidence. All inspection data is stored on EU data residency infrastructure, ready for the supervisory authority.
Frequently asked questions
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