With KRAUSE 360° competence, KRAUSE-Werk brings all these requirements together in a holistic approach. The focus is not on the individual product, but on the combination of product quality, advice, health and safety, service and digital solutions. This results in a service promise that supports users in practice, relieves those responsible of the burden of fulfilling their duties, and provides planners and decision-makers with a reliable basis for safe work processes.
Product expertise as the foundation for safe applications
The basis of any safe work at height is the use of suitable equipment. This includes ladders, step stools, mobile scaffolding, fixed ladders, access platforms, stairs, platforms and bespoke solutions tailored to the customer’s needs. Each must be suited to the task, the working environment and the frequency of use. For example, a single-ladder designed for short-term access can quickly reach its limits during longer jobs. A mobile platform or mobile scaffold, on the other hand, offers greater freedom of movement, more ergonomic working conditions and a safe, larger standing area.
KRAUSE develops access solutions in three different quality grades that take these varying application scenarios into account. High-quality materials, robust construction, user-friendly features and compliance with standards play a central role in this. For users, this means they receive equipment that is not only technically suitable but also proves its worth in daily use. Those responsible benefit from additional safety, as the product selection is based on tried-and-tested solutions and can be better integrated into workplace risk assessments.
A typical example of this is maintenance work in a production facility. Where it is necessary to regularly access high-level inspection points on machinery or conveyor systems, a makeshift access solution is not sufficient. A suitable access ladder or work platform can shorten walking distances, reduce the risk of tripping and falling, and make maintenance work more predictable. The same applies to work in workshops, warehouses or production areas where staff are working on varying surfaces, in narrow aisles or near machinery and racking systems. Here, stable, slip-resistant and easy-to-use access solutions are particularly important.
Advice that begins before you choose a product
KRAUSE’s 360° expertise begins even before the purchase is made. A precise analysis of the initial situation is crucial, particularly for more complex applications. What tasks need to be carried out? How long will they take? What heights need to be reached? Are there any obstacles, traffic routes, machine movements or specific environmental conditions? Only by addressing these questions can we determine which solution makes sense from a technical, safety and economic perspective.
KRAUSE supports customers with this analysis and accompanies projects from the initial consultation through to design and implementation. Requirements can be assessed in a practical manner on site, for example in logistics areas, workshops, industrial plants, production environments or technical operational areas. This results in solutions tailored to specific needs. This approach is particularly relevant for decision-makers and planners, as it helps to avoid misguided investments and enables work processes to be improved in the long term.
In practice, the benefits are evident, for example, during maintenance work on commercial vehicles, buses or rail vehicles. Here, safe access to roof areas, front sections or side maintenance points is required. In many cases, standard products may suffice, but often customised platforms or special constructions are the better choice. Expert advice helps to balance safety requirements, ergonomics and process times.
Health and safety at work and legally compliant organisation
Access equipment is a key component of workplace health and safety. Companies are obliged to provide suitable work equipment, assess risks and ensure regular inspections are carried out. The relevant legal basis is set out, amongst other things, in the Industrial Safety Regulation, the Technical Rules for Industrial Safety (such as TRBS 2121), and DGUV rules and guidance. The DIN EN 131 standard is also significant for ladders. Among other things, it sets out requirements for ladder designs, functional dimensions, safety and labelling.
These regulations make it clear that it is not enough simply to procure a piece of work equipment once. It must be suitable for its intended use, used correctly and inspected regularly. This is precisely where KRAUSE’s expertise in occupational safety comes into play. Through the KRAUSE-ACADEMY, employees can receive practical training to qualify as “competent persons” to inspect ladders, step stools, mobile scaffolding, extension ladders and other work equipment. In this way, companies build up their own expertise and can integrate their inspection obligations more efficiently into day-to-day operations.
If a company does not have a “qualified person” or lacks the necessary internal capacity, inspections can also be carried out on-site by KRAUSE-INSPECT specialists. This is particularly advantageous for companies with multiple sites, a large inventory of work equipment or time-critical operational processes. In addition to access equipment, other work equipment such as racking systems, power-operated doors and gates, fall protection systems, electric industrial trucks, electrical installations and machinery, as well as personal protective equipment against falls from a height, can also be assessed as part of the relevant inspection services. This ensures that health and safety at work is not viewed in isolation, but as an integral part of a comprehensive occupational safety management system.
Digital processes for greater transparency and sustainability
Digital documentation is an essential component of modern health and safety at work. Paper-based inspection reports, manual schedules and documents stored in various locations not only create extra work but also increase the risk of gaps in the records. In collaboration with its digitalisation partner wosatec, KRAUSE is therefore expanding its services to include a web app for the digital management of work equipment and inspection documentation.
Work equipment can be uniquely identified via QR codes, inspections recorded on mobile devices, and inspection results documented centrally. Automatic reminders of inspection deadlines help ensure deadlines are met. Those responsible are provided with a transparent overview of the condition and inspection history of the work equipment in use. This facilitates internal checks, audits and preparation for external inspections.
In addition to greater process reliability, digital documentation also contributes to sustainability. Less paper, less time spent searching for documents and improved traceability reduce resource consumption and administrative burden. For businesses with large numbers of ladders, folding steps, mobile scaffolding or other work equipment subject to inspection, this translates into a noticeable gain in efficiency.
Service throughout the entire life cycle
KRAUSE 360° competence does not end with the delivery of a product. Technical support, spare parts supply, installation services, product information, digital data, catalogues, seminars and dedicated contact persons all help to ensure that access equipment can be used safely and cost-effectively throughout its entire life cycle.
For users, good service means rapid support in their day-to-day work; for safety officers, it means reliable information on inspection, use and maintenance; and for purchasers and planners, it means better data, clearer processes and greater transparency in procurement and administration. This holistic approach offers a clear advantage, particularly in larger organisations where technical, commercial and safety-related requirements must be coordinated.
Greater security is achieved through collaboration
Safe and efficient work at height is not achieved by a single product alone, but through the combination of suitable access equipment, expert advice, competent use, regular inspections and traceable documentation. KRAUSE 360° competence brings all these aspects together into a practical, holistic concept.
Users benefit from well-designed products that make their daily work safer and more ergonomic. Managers and inspectors receive support with organisation, training and documentation. Decision-makers and planners are provided with solutions that combine technical requirements, cost-effectiveness and occupational safety. In this way, KRAUSE contributes to safe working conditions, efficient processes and the sustainable use of durable access equipment.