For users, this primarily means being able to carry out their work safely, ergonomically and without unnecessary detours, while safety officers, occupational health and safety specialists and operations managers are responsible for ensuring the legally compliant provision of suitable work equipment, and buyers, engineers and process planners must also take into account downtime, cycle times, space requirements and long-term cost efficiency; it is precisely at this intersection that KRAUSE’s commercial vehicle solutions come into play, combining proven access technology with project-specific aluminium solutions to enable safe access to vehicle areas that would otherwise be difficult to reach using standard equipment.
From roof work platforms to mobile maintenance platforms
The requirements in commercial vehicle operations are highly diverse: in bus depots, service technicians need safe access to roof-mounted systems such as air-conditioning units, energy storage or electrical components, while HGV maintenance focuses on secure access to bodies, loading areas and technical assemblies; tankers, silo vehicles and rail tank wagons also require safe solutions for operation, inspection, sampling as well as cleaning, de-icing and maintenance tasks. For all these applications, KRAUSE offers a comprehensive portfolio ranging from fixed and mobile work platforms, roof access systems, crossover platforms and stairways to maintenance platforms and bespoke access solutions, complemented by standardised tanker ladders that provide a lightweight, mobile, freestanding and height-adjustable way to access vehicles safely. Wherever standard solutions reach their limits, KRAUSE develops project-specific aluminium systems—tailored precisely to tank and silo vehicles, production lines and complex maintenance environments.
Designed for practical use, not bound by standards
A typical example from bus maintenance illustrates the benefits: when technicians regularly need to work on the roof of a city bus, a ladder is in many cases neither the most ergonomic nor the safest solution in terms of process reliability; instead, the worker requires a stable standing platform, freedom of movement, fall protection and the ability to handle tools and spare parts safely, and a purpose-designed roof working platform not only reduces the risk of awkward postures but also shortens working distances, while the integration of power or compressed air connections into the platform further eliminates the need for improvised cabling, thereby improving workplace organisation and reducing auxiliary times.
Another example can be found in the production of commercial vehicles, where recurring assembly steps are carried out at defined areas of the vehicle; platforms, crossover systems or travelling structures can be integrated into the production process in such a way that employees can reach their working position safely and install components without improvised aids, and particularly in timed processes, short distances, secure transitions and stable working surfaces have a direct impact on efficiency and quality, while errors caused by unfavourable working positions as well as time losses due to changeovers can be reduced if the access solution is planned as an integral part of the process from the outset.
Such solutions are equally relevant for municipal service providers and external service teams, as anyone who regularly works on tall vehicles, superstructures or roof areas needs more than just a means of access—they require a safe and reliable working environment; slip-resistant surfaces, generously dimensioned platform areas, guardrails, handrails and robust constructions all contribute to ensuring that tasks can be carried out in a controlled and repeatable manner.
Regulations as the basis for selection
Selecting suitable access equipment is not merely a matter of convenience; it is based on the employer’s risk assessment, as required by the German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health (Betriebssicherheitsverordnung), which stipulates that work equipment must be provided and used in such a way that the safety and health of employees are ensured, while TRBS 2121 further specifies the requirements for protection against falls, with Part 2 focusing in particular on the use of ladders and making it clear that, depending on the task, duration and level of risk, ladders are not automatically the appropriate solution; for many activities on commercial vehicles, platforms, podiums or working platforms are therefore the more suitable choice, as they provide greater stability, larger working areas and enable collective protective measures.
Regular inspection also plays a central role: work equipment must be inspected in accordance with the risk assessment, the operating conditions and the manufacturer’s specifications, while the German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health (BetrSichV) defines the “competent person for inspection” on the basis of professional training, experience and current professional activity, with TRBS 1203 further specifying the requirements for these individuals; for companies, this means that even the most technically advanced access solution will only deliver its full benefit if it is correctly selected, users are properly instructed, and the equipment is inspected regularly and documented accordingly.
Safety, ergonomics and sustainability working in harmony
Safe access solutions enhance occupational safety while also supporting efficient and sustainable processes; aluminium constructions are durable, lightweight and corrosion-resistant, mobile systems can be deployed across multiple workstations, and modular or custom-designed installations can be adapted to changing processes, allowing companies to conserve resources by integrating access technology not just as a short-term purchase but as a long-term component of their maintenance and production operations.
Another aspect of sustainability lies in process quality: if vehicles can be serviced more quickly, safely and predictably, downtime is reduced, allowing buses, lorries and specialised vehicles to return to operation sooner, while at the same time an ergonomic design lowers the physical strain on employees, as those who have a secure footing, easy access to their tools and can reach vehicle areas without risky movements are able to work with greater concentration and a reduced risk of accidents.
Comprehensive support from analysis through to inspection
For customised commercial vehicle solutions, the project phase is of crucial importance: KRAUSE supports companies throughout the entire process, from analysing the working situation through planning, design and manufacturing to installation, commissioning and service, taking into account vehicle types, workshop geometry, traffic routes, cycle times, existing media connections and safety requirements; this is particularly important when different vehicle models are handled at a single workstation or when existing workshop and production areas offer only limited space.
If required, training and inspection services complement safe operation: KRAUSE offers seminars in which participants acquire the necessary expertise to properly inspect ladders, steps, mobile scaffolding and other access equipment and to document the results in a legally compliant manner; alternatively or additionally, companies can entrust the inspection of their equipment to the KRAUSE inspection service, whose qualified inspectors come directly on site, check existing equipment, label it upon successful inspection and provide transparent, verifiable documentation, making this a valuable component for organisations with extensive access equipment to ensure that inspection processes are carried out reliably and efficiently.
Safe access creates productive workplaces
The KRAUSE commercial vehicle range clearly demonstrates that access technology today goes far beyond traditional ladders: in maintenance, cleaning, servicing and production, safe workstations are required that adapt to the specific vehicle, task and process, and roof working platforms, maintenance platforms, crossover systems, stairways and customised constructions create stable access, reduce risks and enable efficient workflows, giving users greater safety and comfort in their daily work, while making it easier for those responsible to meet occupational health and safety requirements and providing planners and decision-makers with a solution that combines productivity, ergonomics and long-term cost-effectiveness.