Inspection of Work Equipment: Duties, Intervals and Procedure

Employers and operators of machinery, vehicles and work equipment have a clear statutory duty: the periodic inspection and maintenance of work equipment is not a recommendation but a binding requirement of the Accident Insurance Act (UVG) and the Ordinance on the Prevention of Accidents and Occupational Diseases (VUV). Anyone who neglects it risks official measures, interruptions to operations and, in the event of a claim, premium increases or reduced benefits.

This guide explains which duties fall on companies and operators in Switzerland, how inspection intervals are regulated for each item of work equipment, and how to organise inspections economically — including the practically relevant question of what applies to rented machinery.

A note on terminology: the term "UVV inspection" does not exist in Switzerland. It comes from German law (the accident prevention regulations of the employers' liability insurance associations). The Swiss counterpart is the periodic checking and maintenance of work equipment under the VUV and EKAS Guideline 6512. Anyone using documentation from Germany must convert the legal references accordingly.

The legal bases at a glance:

• UVG – the Accident Insurance Act as the overarching basis
• VUV Art. 3–6 – employer duties, instruction of employees
• VUV Art. 32b – maintenance of work equipment and its checking
• EKAS Guideline 6512 – work equipment: requirements for inspection, maintenance and specialists
• Crane Ordinance (SR 832.312.15) – specific requirements for the safe use of cranes
• SN EN 280 – safety standard for mobile elevating work platforms

In addition, Suva provides information sheets and checklists; supervision is exercised by Suva, SECO and the cantonal labour inspectorates.

The inspection duty falls on the employer or operator — not necessarily the owner. What matters is who actually uses the work equipment and is responsible for it:

• Owner ≠ operator: anyone who buys machinery and operates it themselves is the operator. Anyone who rents it out transfers the operator duties to the hirer for the rental period.
• Hirer = operator: with rented work equipment, the hirer assumes all operator duties — including the check before every use and the instruction of operators under Art. 6 VUV.
• Exception for rental machines from Luibl Rental: the periodic inspection rests with the lessor. Luibl Rental delivers all rental machines with a valid inspection record — the check before work begins remains with the operator.

Swiss law does not set a blanket annual interval: under the VUV and EKAS Guideline 6512, the scope and frequency of checks are governed by the manufacturer's specifications, the hazard assessment and the intensity of use. In practice, an annual cycle has become established for most work equipment.

Work equipment	Inspection interval (practice)	Legal basis	Inspector
Forklifts / industrial trucks	usually annually	VUV Art. 32b, EKAS 6512	Specialist
Mobile elevating work platforms	usually annually	VUV, EKAS 6512, SN EN 280	Specialist
Cranes	per the Crane Ordinance, by crane type	Crane Ordinance, VUV	Specialist / recognised inspection body
Construction machinery (excavators, wheel loaders, dumpers)	usually annually	VUV Art. 32b, EKAS 6512	Specialist
Telehandlers	usually annually	VUV Art. 32b	Specialist
Company vehicles (commercial)	roadworthiness test at VTS intervals	SVG/VTS, plus VUV for mounted equipment	Road traffic office / specialist

These figures are guide values; the manufacturer's specifications and the hazard assessment take precedence.

All inspection intervals with their legal source and the responsible inspector in detail: Inspection intervals for all work equipment at a glance →

The inspection must be carried out by a specialist within the meaning of EKAS Guideline 6512. Requirements: relevant training, professional experience with the type of work equipment being inspected, and current professional activity in that field. For cranes, the additional requirements of the Crane Ordinance apply; here a recognised inspection body or a correspondingly qualified specialist is required.

Luibl Rental does not offer qualification or inspection services to third parties. For external, recognised providers: Who may carry out the inspection? →

Visual inspection

External examination for damage, corrosion, missing components, illegible markings and obvious safety defects — without operating the machine.

Functional inspection

Examination of all operating and safety devices during operation: brakes, controls, safety cut-outs, signalling devices, lifting gear, emergency lowering and other safety-relevant functions.

Load test (machine-dependent)

For cranes and mobile elevating work platforms, a load test with a defined test load is prescribed at certain inspection cycles.

Documentation and inspection record

Inspection results must be recorded in writing (inspection report, control log). The records must be kept at the company and produced to the supervisory bodies on request. For cranes, the inspection documentation is maintained permanently in accordance with the Crane Ordinance.

Inspection costs vary according to machine type, the effort involved and the inspection body commissioned. Guide ranges from the market:

• Forklifts: approx. 150–350 CHF per inspection
• Mobile elevating work platforms: approx. 200–450 CHF per unit
• Cranes: approx. 400–1,200 CHF (depending on crane type and the inspection body required)
• Construction machinery: approx. 150–450 CHF per machine
• Company vehicles: approx. 60–150 CHF per vehicle (roadworthiness test)

These ranges are guide values. Obtain comparative quotes from recognised inspection bodies.

For vehicles in Switzerland, the primary basis for inspection is not the VUV but the Road Traffic Act (SVG) together with the Ordinance on the Technical Requirements for Road Vehicles (VTS): the periodic roadworthiness test (Motorfahrzeugkontrolle, MFK) is ordered by the cantonal road traffic office, and the intervals depend on the vehicle type and age.

Important: for vehicles used commercially, that is not always the end of the matter. As soon as work equipment is mounted on the vehicle — loader cranes, tail lifts, bodywork, load-securing devices — those components are additionally subject to the maintenance and checking duty under the VUV and, for cranes, the Crane Ordinance. The roadworthiness test and the work equipment check are legally separate requirements with different inspection scopes.

A German body of rules such as DGUV Regulation 70 for vehicles does not exist in Switzerland — anyone using such templates must convert them to the SVG/VTS and the VUV.

Missing inspection records are not a trivial matter:

• Official measures by Suva, SECO or the cantonal labour inspectorate: a warning, a formal order and, where compliance is refused, enforcement measures up to stopping the work
• Premium increase by Suva where the occupational safety rules are breached
• Reduction of benefits for accidents attributable to a grossly negligent breach of safety rules; recourse against the employer is possible
• Criminal consequences where personal injury results from demonstrably uninspected work equipment (negligent bodily harm under the Criminal Code)

Regular inspection does not only protect employees — it is a fundamental part of running a company on a sound legal footing.

With rented machinery, lessor and hirer share the responsibility — with a clearly defined division:

Luibl Rental as lessor: all work equipment from the Luibl rental fleet is delivered with a valid inspection record. Our service technicians inspect the fleet regularly. Delivery is handled by our own low-loader fleet — throughout Switzerland and across Europe, directly to your site.

You as hirer and operator: for the rental period you carry the operator duties: checks before use, safe set-up and the instruction of operators under Art. 6 VUV. You do not have to organise the periodic inspection itself for Luibl rental equipment.

Questions about machine availability or delivery to your region? Send an enquiry now →

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Is work equipment inspection required by law?

Yes. The duty to maintain and check work equipment follows from the VUV — in particular Art. 32b — set out in more detail by EKAS Guideline 6512. Any operator unable to produce a valid inspection record risks official measures, premium increases by Suva and reduced benefits in the event of a claim.

Is there a "UVV inspection" in Switzerland?

No. "UVV inspection" is a German term from the accident prevention regulations of the employers' liability insurance associations. In Switzerland the corresponding duty is called the periodic checking and maintenance of work equipment under the VUV and EKAS Guideline 6512. In substance the inspections are comparable, but the legal bases and the requirements for the inspector differ.

How often must an inspection be carried out?

There is no blanket statutory annual interval. Scope and frequency depend on the manufacturer's specifications, the hazard assessment and the intensity of use; in practice an annual cycle is customary. Details for all machine types: Inspection intervals at a glance →

Who may inspect?

A specialist under EKAS Guideline 6512 — with relevant training, professional experience and current activity in the field. For cranes, the additional requirements of the Crane Ordinance apply. Details: The specialist explained →

What does an inspection cost?

Costs depend on the machine type and the effort involved. Forklifts: approx. 150–350 CHF, mobile elevating work platforms: approx. 200–450 CHF, cranes depending on type approx. 400–1,200 CHF, company vehicles approx. 60–150 CHF per vehicle. Obtain comparative quotes from recognised inspection bodies.

Who is responsible on rented machines?

Luibl Rental delivers all rental machines with a valid inspection record. As the hirer you carry the operator duties for the rental period: checks before use, safe operation and instruction under Art. 6 VUV. The periodic inspection is organised by Luibl Rental as lessor — with Luibl machines that is not your task.