Two industrial incidents within weeks of each other have cast a shadow over a government plan to relax mandatory electrical safety checks. On a construction site in Lower Bavaria in mid-July 2026, a 26-year-old worker lost his left forearm when a steel cable jumped its guide rail on a 380-kV power line. Criminal police are investigating the cause. Just a month earlier, in Hamburg, a worker died during demolition work, but the body was not discovered until later. Prosecutors are probing negligent homicide, and the person in charge allegedly failed to report the incident to the relevant occupational accident insurance association (Berufsgenossenschaft).
The accidents come as the federal government prepares a relief package — announced for mid-July 2026 — that loosens recurring electrical inspection obligations. The projected savings: roughly 600 million
Relaxation Only for Low-Hazard Areas
The easing applies solely to rooms with low risk potential. High-risk zones such as commercial kitchens and dishwashing areas remain subject to strict recurring tests. Lifts and pressure vessels were never part of the relaxed rules. Experts advise businesses to keep existing inspection intervals for now, because the employer retains ultimate responsibility for safe operation.
Liability: Three Levels of Negligence
Regardless of any planned relaxation, the liability of the qualified electrical specialist remains central. Lawyers distinguish three degrees: slight negligence normally carries no personal liability, medium negligence can trigger proportional liability, and gross negligence often leads to full liability. Fault exists if statutory requirements, the five safety rules, or DGUV regulations are violated. A typical example from specialist literature: an overlooked poor protective-conductor contact can result in compensation claims, pain-and-suffering damages, and even criminal proceedings. Without seamless inspection records, insurers also reduce their payouts.
Tighter Standards Alongside Looser Rules
While one part of government works to lower administrative burdens, technical standards continue to tighten. In June 2026, the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) published new information sheet 209-015 on the safe maintenance of machinery. It stresses that occupational safety begins at the planning stage and ends only with the controlled restart after documented inspection.
Additional liability risks come with the July amendment to the Building Electromobility Infrastructure Act (GEIG). The revision raises requirements for charging infrastructure in residential and commercial buildings. Property managers and owners face liability for violations of testing, information, or documentation duties.
Regulatory movement is also underway for photovoltaic systems and electric vehicle charging stations. A planned amendment to the Trade Regulation (Gewerbeordnung) speeds up approval procedures — provided that planning and installation are carried out by authorised electrical engineers. Recurring inspections would then be due every five years, or every three years under particularly demanding conditions.
How Specialist Firms Protect Themselves
Industry experts recommend maintenance contracts and strict adherence to DGUV Regulation 3. Costs per device run about 3 to 8 euros in the commercial sector. Proper documentation serves not only safety but primarily legal protection. Caution is also advised when working near overhead power lines: grid operators warn of voltage flashover from large machinery. The minimum clearance distance is four metres. Failure to observe it risks life-threatening accidents and massive liability questions.
