News

New safety requirements for quick couplers on hydraulic excavators have been in force since 1 February 2025. Older systems without adequate safety equipment no longer meet current standards and must be inspected. Here you can find out what companies now have to consider and how the BG BAU provides support (only in German).

The GS-BAU-02 describes the requirements for auditing and certification of quality assurance systems in accordance with Directive 2000/14/EC, Annex VIII and only applies in conjunction with the DGUV Test Testing and Certification Regulations - Part 1: Certification of products, processes and quality management systems, DGUV Principle 300-003. It contains essential specifications on the actual certification process as well as on the audit specifications and audit findings.

The GS-BAU-02 as of April 2025 can be downloaded here (only in German).

The DGUV Test Testing and Certification Body BAU has a mobile test laboratory that can record vibration parameters quickly, accurately and on site. The test principles for this have been newly created in the test principle GS-BAU-61 “Principles for measuring vibration emissions on construction machinery” according to the current state of the art and standardization.

The GS-BAU-61 as of April 2025 can be downloaded here (only in German).

GS-BAU-18 was revised due to the changed requirements. The changes include, among other things, that the test for fall-through safety can only take place if durability is proven for the period of use, the consideration of the installation situation (e.g. roof structure) when determining the fall heights as well as the elaboration of the scope of application and presentation of the specifications of ASR A2.1.

The GS-BAU-18 as of December 2024 can be downloaded here (only in German).

The application deadline has been extended by one month and now ends on 31 January 2025. The award ceremony will take place on 8 April 2025 as part of the world's leading trade fair for construction machinery ‘bauma’ in Munich.

Further information on the EuroTest Award 2025 and the online application form can be found on the BG BAU website (only in German).

Modern hydraulic excavators are used on construction sites as "universal machines". Pallet forks on rotating and swivelling rotators are increasingly being used, particularly for loading and unloading operations. The AKTUELL FB BAU-005 specialist department provides assistance in preparing the risk assessment in accordance with Section 3 of the German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health (BetrSichV).

On 29 June 2023, the new EU Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 was published in the Official Journal of the EU, which must be applied to all new machinery placed on the market from 20 January 2027. It will replace the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC on this date without a transitional phase.

You can find the full article here.

Since leaving the EU on 1 January 2021, the United Kingdom - with the exception of Northern Ireland - has had its own rules for product labelling and product approval. In May 2024, the British government passed a law that allows companies to continue to market a large number of products with a CE marking in the UK beyond 31 December 2024. Further information can be found here (only in German).

Last week, the German Employer's Liability Insurance Association for the Construction Industry (BG BAU) gave the starting signal for the EuroTest-Award 2025. With this award, BG BAU regularly recognizes outstanding achievements in technical occupational safety and health and product safety that contribute to improving occupational safety and health in the construction industry. Companies and individuals can apply as of now.

Further details on the EuroTest Award 2025 and the online application form are available on the BG BAU Website. Questions about the application process can be answered by the staff of the DGUV Test Testing and Certification Body Construction Department by phone at +49 89 8897-858 or by e-mail at pzbau@bgbau.de

Apply with your technical innovation until 2024-12-31.

The award ceremony
The EuroTest Award will be presented at a BG BAU reception at bauma 2025 on Tuesday, April 08, 2025.

Contact
DGUV Test Prüf- und Zertifizierungsstelle
Phone: +49 89 8897-858
e-mail: pzbau@bgbau.de

Here (PDF, 150 kB, non-accessible) you can download the flyer for the EuroTest-Award 2025.

The walls of trenches must be secured in such a way that they are stable during the individual construction stages.

To ensure that this can be achieved with safety-tested equipment, the GS-BAU-24 test principle "Principles for testing trench shoring equipment" has been revised to reflect the current state of the art and standardisation.

The GS-BAU-24 as of July 2024 can be downloaded here.

The Machinery Regulation was published in the EU Official Journal on 29 June 2023. The testing and certification system of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV Test) has put together a video presentation that briefly and concisely presents the most important changes to the new Machinery Regulation compared to the previous Machinery Directive.

The Machinery Ordinance will result in changes in the area of hand-arm vibrations. You can find more information on this topic here.

The test principle GS-BAU-14 "Principles for the inspection of suspended access equipment (PAM)” has been editorially adapted.

We are pleased to provide you with the updated test principle as of March 2024 here.

You can now view our current tests and certifications online every quarter in the BG BAU trade magazine "BauPortal".

You can find the direct link to our certified machines and safety components here.

The test principle GS-BAU-23 "Principles for the testing of safety components (ROPS, FOPS, TOPS)" has been editorially adapted.

We are pleased to provide you with the updated test principle as of March 2024 here.

The DGUV Test Testing and Certification Centre of the Construction Division (PZ BAU) is now headquartered at the Haan site. Our notifications in accordance with Directives 2006/42/EC and 2000/14/EC have already been converted. Your contact persons at all PZ BAU locations (Munich, Haan, Berlin and Dresden) will continue to be available to you under the known contact details.

Following the latest findings in the field of occupational safety and technical progress, the new test principle GS-BAU-71 "Principles for the testing of personnel recognition systems for earth-moving machines" has been developed. A positive assessment based on this test principle is also a prerequisite for inclusion in the BG BAU occupational safety awards.

The GS-BAU-71 as of October 2023 can be downloaded here.

The UKCA marking came into force on 1 January 2021. In order to give companies more time, in most cases the CE marking could continue to be used until the end of 2023. From 2024, all products requiring labelling that are newly placed in the UK should bear the UKCA label. On 1 August 2023, it was announced by the UK Department for Business and Trade that the recognition of the CE marking is to be extended for a further time, probably indefinitely. The new update will apply to 18 regulations, including PPE, machinery and outdoor.

Further information can be found here.

A few days ago, the new Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 was published in the Official Journal of the EU and will enter into force on 19 July 2023. This Machinery Regulation applies to all machinery, partly completed machinery and associated products made available on the market from 20.01.2027. It covers not only machinery and partly completed machinery, but also interchangeable equipment, safety components, lifting accessories, chains, ropes, slings and webbing, and removable mechanical transmission devices.

Since 2001, BG BAU has awarded the EuroTest prize on the occasion of the world's leading trade fair "bauma", thereby honouring the innovative occupational safety ideas of the many large and small companies that are paving the way for Vision Zero in the construction industry.

These ideas help prevent accidents and work-related illnesses and make construction sites safer.

From a total of 34 applications, the expert jury, which is made up of members of international testing institutes as well as representatives of universities, construction industry associations and the BG BAU, determined four award winners this year in an extensive evaluation process.

The winners of this year's EuroTest award are the companies OilQuick Deutschland KG, ALFIX GmbH, BAUER Maschinen GmbH and the company ARCURE SA BLAXTAIR.

Please have a look at our press release and the film that was shot during the ceremony.

Occupational safety is always a hot topic in the construction industry. BG BAU member companies that invest in occupational safety and health protection can benefit from funding for selected products that make work safer.

For construction machinery and construction site trucks, these are currently:

• Devices for automatic engine stop,
• the retrofitting of turn assistance systems on trucks,
• the retrofitting of reversing cameras on construction machinery and trucks,
• the retrofitting of side cameras on trucks and hydraulic excavators,
• access systems for mobile construction machinery and
• quick-change systems that meet increased safety requirements.

The current lists with the requirements and instructions for the individual measures can be found on the BG BAU homepage under the following link: occupational safety premiums

Manufacturers of relevant products can apply for inclusion on the respective list of eligible products.

Contact address: pzbau@bgbau.de

The new test principle GS-BAU-70 "Principles for the testing and certification of safety-relevant assistance systems on machines and commercial vehicles" has been adapted to the current state of the art and standardisation.
The GS-BAU-70 as of December 2022 can be downloaded here (PDF, 192 kB, non-accessible) . You can also find more information on the DGUV Test (only in German) page.

Machinery and equipment that has successfully undergone a conformity assessment procedure by Dec. 31, 2022, may continue to be introduced into the U.K. market with the CE mark until the certificate expires or, at the latest, Dec. 31, 2027. The UK authorities recommend that manufacturers who choose this route include in the UK declaration of conformity the list of relevant notified UK standards and equivalent harmonized EU standards that they have applied, as well as details of the EU-recognized notified body that carried out the conformity assessment procedures. Please note that the online guide on this topic has been updated and can be accessed here.

Quick-change attachments on hydraulic excavators and loaders backhoe that currently comply with standard EN 474-1:2006+A5:2018 or its successor EN 474-1:2006+A6:2019 no longer represent the state of the art and do not meet the safety standard specified by the Machinery Directive. Due to the publication in the Official Journal on 14.10.2021, the presumption of conformity according to the Machinery Directive is no longer triggered for these quick-change devices.

The DGUV Test Prüf- und Zertifizierungsstelle Fachbereich Bauwesen already comprehensively explained the technical requirements in the magazine BauPortal in May 2020. The requirements of the 474 series of standards announced for 2022 for quick-change attachments for hydraulic excavators and backhoe loaders are already considered in the current test principles GS-BAU-25 (PDF, 185 kB, non-accessible) .

This "Fachbereich AKTUELL" is an aid for employers (entrepreneurs) in the preparation of the risk assessment according to § 3 BetrSichV. It provides information for a specific individual case on how the exemption for lifting persons with work equipment not intended for this purpose can be interpreted in accordance with the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health.
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The permissibility of using the CE marking in the UK has been extended by one year until 31.12.2022. For further detailed information please click here (only in German).

Since 1921, the field of testing and certification has been an important building block for safety and health. DGUV Test still stands for this today. Through testing and certification, DGUV Test ensures safety and health at work. The competence network for a safe and healthy working environment combines science, requirements and practice for innovative developments. For further information please click here (only in German).

Due to Brexit, new rules on product labelling and approval will apply in the UK from January 2021. For products for which certification by independent third parties is mandatory, DGUV Test will cooperate with British notified testing bodies. For further detailed information please click here (only in German).

The test principle GS-BAU-60 "Principles for testing the acoustics of construction machinery" was revised in spring 2021. In addition to adjustments to the scope of application, the procedure for sound measurement and the application of correction factors have now been explained in more detail. The GS-BAU-60 as of April 2021 can be downloaded here (PDF, 204 kB, non-accessible) .

The new test principle GS BAU 18 "Principles for the testing and certification of fall-through protection of components during construction or maintenance work" has been adapted to the current state of the art and standardisation. The focus here was on the testing procedure and the comprehensibility of the test specifications. There was also a fundamental innovation. The GS BAU 18 with status May 2020 can be downloaded here (PDF, 760 kB, non-accessible) .

Increased accident figures and the currently still unknown date of publication of the new draft standard for quick-change devices have made it necessary to revise the GS BAU 25 test principle "Principles for the testing of quick-change devices". It was adapted to the draft standard and now corresponds to the current state of the art. The GS BAU 25 with status February 2020 can be downloaded here (PDF, 185 kB, non-accessible) .

The compatibility between attachment tools and quick-change system and their correct use are particularly important points to avoid accidents on construction sites. Further information and a specialist article on this topic can be found in the current issue of BauPortal (02/2020, p. 41), under the following link or as a download here (PDF, 1.5 MB, non-accessible) (only in German).