German Court Puts Users on Notice as Berlin Eases Safety Rules with €600 Million Package
Published on 07/16/2026 at 13:16 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
A Munich court ruling at the end of May 2026 has reinforced that visitors at trade fairs bear primary responsibility for obvious hazards. The Landgericht München I dismissed a compensation claim from a trade-show attendee who tripped on a balance board, ruling that the danger was self-evident and that the organiser had not violated its duty of care. The verdict lands just as the German government pushes through a second relief package aimed at cutting red tape around operational safety.
The federal cabinet passed the package on 15 July 2026. It is designed to save businesses an additional 600 million euros each year. Since November 2025, the government says it has already achieved cumulative savings of 10.4 billion euros through earlier measures.
Stickers, Plates, and Truck Bans Get Scaled Back
Under the new rules, companies will no longer have to affix inspection stickers to ordinary office equipment. Electric vehicles will also lose the requirement for a green environmental plaque. In the logistics sector, regional truck-driving bans will be standardised so they only apply on nationwide public holidays.
Yet the government has stressed that core safety obligations remain untouched. Both the DGUV Vorschrift 3 (the statutory accident insurance regulation) and the Betriebssicherheitsverordnung (BetrSichV – the ordinance on industrial safety and health) continue to apply in full. Since a final regulatory text has not yet been published, inspection intervals for electrical equipment still depend on the individual risk assessment carried out by each employer.
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Sectors such as hospitality and catering cannot expect any blanket relaxation. Commercial kitchens are classified as wet rooms, meaning strict inspection cycles remain mandatory. Experts are advising businesses to maintain their current testing schedules for the time being.
Digital Documentation Gains Ground
Small and medium-sized companies must document every piece of equipment, from chargers to coffee machines. Non-compliance risks fines, liability claims, and insurance gaps.
The Zentralverband der Deutschen Elektro- und Informationstechnischen Handwerke (ZVEH), together with a partner initiative, has developed a digital tool to help electrical contractors inspect and document controllable energy installations. A final version is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.
On occupational health, external service providers are becoming more important. TÜV Rheinland noted in mid-July that updating risk assessments is mandatory. While physical hazards have long been addressed, psychological strain is now receiving more attention. A legal obligation to assess mental workload has existed since 2013. The Handwerkskammer Münster will offer an online seminar on the topic in August 2026.
Machinery and Fire Safety Face New Standards
Maintenance work now comes under a fresh European standard. The new DIN EN 17975 establishes a continent-wide norm for lockout-tagout (LOTO) procedures, covering the safe isolation of electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic energy sources during servicing.
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The upcoming Machinery Regulation, which takes effect on 20 January 2027, will impose higher security demands on machine builders. Most applications require Security Level 2 under IEC 62443. Companies have to perform risk analyses and implement measures such as detection of unknown hardware addresses.
Fire extinguishers must still be inspected by a qualified person at least every two years according to DIN 14406-4. Additionally, pressure tests under the BetrSichV are required at five- or ten-year intervals. The number of fire-extinguisher units to be kept on site is governed by the workplace directive ASR A2.2.
Event and Certification Updates
For operators of assembly venues, the revision of the Muster-Versammlungsstättenverordnung (MVStättVO – model ordinance for assembly places) is gaining relevance. An administrative-law specialist is scheduled to present the key changes in October 2026. Meanwhile, the events industry is preparing a uniform certification process for sustainable management under DIN ISO 20121. A new EU directive due in September 2026 will boost the importance of that certification.
The Munich court’s decision from late May serves as a reminder that even as paperwork is reduced, personal responsibility remains firmly with users and visitors. The judge found no breach of traffic-safety duties when a trade-fair attendee fell on a plainly visible balance board – a precedent that organisers and exhibitors are now watching closely.
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