Lesson 5.1 · 7 min

Safety training: when, how, and on record

Open in the coursewith narrated slides, a checklist to tick off and a quiz

At a glance

Adequate, in working time, on record. Employers make sure workers get adequate training on safety and health. It happens during working time and must be documented.
Six occasions. Before starting work, on transfer or new tasks, with new or changed equipment, new substances, new methods, and after accidents or near misses.
Tailored to the workstation. Training is geared to the workstation and tasks, covers what to do in foreseeable disruptions, and is repeated regularly where needed.
Understandable, and understood. Workers who don't speak enough German are trained in their mother tongue or another language they understand. The employer makes sure it was understood.
Missing training is an offence. Breaching the training duty risks a fine of 166 to 8,324 euros, or up to 16,659 euros for a repeat.

In detail

The duty

Employers must make sure workers receive adequate training on safety and health § 14(1) ASchG. Training must take place during working time, and it must be documented ("nachweislich"). Suitable experts must be brought in where needed.

When

Training must in any case be given § 14(2) ASchG:

before starting work;
on transfer or a change of tasks;
when work equipment is introduced or changed;
when new substances are introduced;
when work methods are introduced or changed;
after accidents or events that nearly led to an accident, where that seems useful to prevent further accidents.

How

It is geared to the workstation and the tasks, adapted to new hazards, and also covers what to do in foreseeable disruptions. Where needed it must be repeated at regular intervals, in any case when the assessment sets that as a measure or a regulation requires it § 14(3) ASchG.
It is suited to the worker's experience and understandable. Workers who don't speak enough German are trained in their mother tongue or another language they understand, and the employer makes sure they understood § 14(4) ASchG.
It may also be given in writing; where needed, written operating instructions must be provided and posted at the workstation § 14(5) ASchG.

On record

The act requires training to be documented § 14(1) ASchG but prescribes no particular form of record. A list with the date, content, trainer and the trainees' signatures, for example, can serve. Breaching the training duty carries a fine of 166 to 8,324 euros, or 333 to 16,659 euros for a repeat § 130(1) no. 11 ASchG.

Checklist

New workers are trained before their first working day.
We train again with new equipment, substances or methods.
After accidents and near misses, we train where it helps.
Every training session is on record: date, content, trainer, signatures.
Workers who don't speak enough German are trained in a way they understand.

Quiz

When must training be given in any case?

Before starting work
Only after an accident
Once a year, at year end
Only when workers ask for it

Show the answer

The answer is A: Before starting work. § 14(2) no. 1 ASchG: training must in any case be given before starting work, and on the further occasions in nos. 2 to 6.

Sources

This lesson's statements rest on:

Not legal advice. What counts is the Workers Protection Act (ASchG) and its regulations in the Federal Legal Information System (read on 4 October 2026). Rules for areas outside the ASchG, such as agriculture and forestry or the public service, and special rules for particular substances or sectors are not covered. Not an offer of the Labour Inspectorate, the AUVA or the Chamber of Commerce.