Companies must therefore not only provide suitable work equipment, but also ensure that it remains in a safe condition. Ladders, folding steps, mobile scaffolding and fixed ladders must be inspected regularly. The requirements for this are set out, amongst other things, in the Industrial Safety Regulation, the Technical Rules for Industrial Safety and the relevant DGUV regulations. The qualifications of the people carrying out such inspections are crucial. This is precisely where the KRAUSE ACADEMY comes in. It provides the specialist knowledge required to assess work equipment safely, document inspections in a transparent manner and better assess risks in day-to-day operations.
Training appropriate to the work equipment
The KRAUSE ACADEMY offers various types of seminars, tailored to the equipment used and the respective responsibilities within the company. There is an important distinction between the one-day compact seminar and the one-day practical seminars. The compact seminar for ladders, step ladders and mobile scaffolding covers the essential basics of several groups of mobile work equipment in a single day. It is particularly suitable for companies that use these items of work equipment together and require broad-based training in their provision, safe use, inspection and documentation.
The practical seminars, by contrast, focus more closely on individual groups of work equipment. For example, the practical seminar on ladders and step stools concentrates on types of construction, typical usage scenarios, inspection criteria, signs of defects and the practical procedure for inspecting a ladder. For companies where ladders and step stools are the primary equipment used, this seminar is the more targeted choice. The practical seminar on mobile scaffolding focuses on the provision, use, assembly, inspection and assessment of defects in mobile scaffolding. Through the practical assembly of a mobile scaffold and an inspection simulation, participants can directly apply the requirements to typical work situations.
This allows the appropriate seminar format to be clearly tailored to the organisation’s operational requirements. The compact seminar combines several pieces of portable work equipment in an efficient one-day format, whilst the practical seminars provide in-depth coverage of individual product groups and are more closely geared towards their specific use, inspection and assessment.
Fixed ladders as a separate topic
In addition to portable ladders, step ladders and mobile scaffolding, the KRAUSE ACADEMY also covers fixed ladders in a separate one-day seminar. This distinction makes technical sense, as fixed ladders differ significantly from portable work equipment. They are permanently installed and generally serve as a permanent means of access to buildings, machinery, technical installations, shafts, containers or other operational facilities. As a result, they place different demands on planning, selection, installation, use and inspection than mobile work equipment.
The seminar focuses exclusively on fixed ladder systems. The focus is on technical fundamentals, relevant regulations, inspection criteria, documentation and practical examples. For companies that use ladders on buildings, roofs, shafts, machinery or plant, this seminar is therefore the ideal training module.
Two days dedicated to mobile and fixed access equipment
This two-day combined seminar offers a comprehensive solution for companies that use both mobile work equipment and fixed ladders. The first day of the seminar focuses on mobile ladders, step ladders and mobile scaffolding. The second day covers fixed ladders. This provides participants with a clear technical framework and enables them to understand the different requirements for mobile and fixed access equipment separately.
The seminar is particularly suitable for managers in the fields of maintenance, facility management, health and safety or engineering who are responsible for various types of access equipment. The advantage lies in the fact that the relevant equipment is not considered in isolation, but is dealt with as part of a coherent training programme.
Using personal protective equipment against falls from a height safely
In addition to the seminars on ladders, step stools, mobile scaffolding and extension ladders, the KRAUSE ACADEMY offers training courses on personal protective equipment against falls from a height. These are aimed at companies where employees require additional safety measures when working at height, for example when climbing, carrying out rescues, working on technical installations or accessing areas where there is a risk of falling.
The two-day basic seminar “Ascent and Rescue with PPE against falls from a height” provides the essential knowledge for the safe use of personal protective equipment against falls from a height. The focus is on the selection, use and inspection of the equipment, as well as safe behaviour in typical operational situations. As rapid and proper rescue is also crucial in an emergency, basic rescue procedures and practical exercises are also covered.
A one-day refresher seminar is available for employees who have already undergone training. It serves to update existing knowledge, re-train safety-related procedures and maintain confidence in handling PPE for fall protection. This seminar programme thus complements training on access techniques by addressing the important topic of personal safety and rescue.
Practical relevance for greater confidence in taking action
A key advantage of the KRAUSE ACADEMY is its practical focus. The seminars cover legal principles and technical expertise, applying this knowledge to typical workplace scenarios. Participants learn how to identify damage, assess defects and make well-reasoned decisions regarding inspections. This practical application is of crucial importance, particularly when it comes to work equipment used on a daily basis.
In-house seminars can further enhance this practical benefit. If the training takes place directly at the client’s premises, the existing work equipment can be incorporated into the training programme. Typical defects, usage scenarios and inspection procedures can then be discussed using the actual ladders, step stools, mobile scaffolding or fixed ladders in use. This makes the training more concrete and allows what has been learnt to be applied more easily to day-to-day work.
This knowledge is also relevant for safety officers, occupational safety specialists, managers and site supervisors. They must be able to organise inspection processes, define responsibilities and assess whether the work equipment used is suitable for the task at hand. The seminars therefore support not only individual inspectors, but the entire workplace safety organisation.
Qualified personnel ease the burden on operational processes
Companies gain greater safety and organisational flexibility when they train their own staff to become ‘qualified persons’. Inspections can be planned more effectively, defects can be identified earlier, and work equipment can be taken out of service more quickly if necessary. This is particularly important in organisations with multiple sites, varying areas of operation or decentralised teams.
A “qualified person” not only recognises obvious damage but can also assess its implications for safety. They know which markings to look out for, which inspection steps are required and how results should be documented. This makes inspection an integral part of the organisation’s safety culture.
Digital documentation as a supplementary aid
Training and specialist knowledge remain the foundation for safe inspection processes. In addition, a digital solution such as wosatec can help to manage work equipment, document inspections and keep track of inspection deadlines. QR codes can be used to uniquely identify work equipment, record inspection results digitally and store reports paperlessly. In this way, wosatec supports practical implementation within the workplace without replacing the focus on training provided by the KRAUSE ACADEMY.
Training as an investment in safe working practices
The requirements for the safe use of access equipment are wide-ranging. Ladders, step stools, mobile scaffolding, fixed ladders and personal protective equipment against falls from a height must be technically suitable. Furthermore, they must be correctly selected, used safely and inspected regularly. The KRAUSE ACADEMY offers a range of seminar formats tailored to the needs of businesses.
The compact seminar provides an efficient overview of several types of mobile work equipment. The practical seminars explore individual product areas in greater depth. The seminar on fixed ladders addresses the specific requirements of fixed systems. The two-day combined seminar brings together mobile and fixed access equipment in a comprehensive training programme. The fall protection seminars complement the programme by covering safe ascending, working and rescue procedures using personal fall protection equipment. Depending on the seminar and the company’s requirements, training sessions can take place at the KRAUSE factory, directly on-site at the company, at selected seminar venues or even online.
This makes the KRAUSE ACADEMY more than just a range of seminars. It supports companies in building up specialist knowledge, making inspection processes safer and fulfilling their occupational health and safety responsibilities in a well-informed manner.