What Happens If the DGUV V3 Inspection Is Missing?
Many business owners know the DGUV V3 inspection is mandatory – but not what actually happens if it's skipped. In short: three independent risks hit you at the same time. Here's a clear explanation of what they are and how to protect yourself.
Fines
The trade association or trade supervisory authority can impose a fine if an inspection is missing.
Personal Liability
As a managing director or owner, you are personally liable in a claims case if the duty of organization was breached.
Insurance Coverage
In the event of fire or accident, insurers can reduce or refuse payment entirely if no inspection records exist.
Why All Three Risks Apply at Once
The most important point first: these three levels are completely independent of one another. A single incident – a cable fire, for example – can simultaneously trigger a fine, a damages claim, and a refusal by the insurer. One does not rule out the other.
The basis is the Occupational Health and Safety Act (ArbSchG): employers must provide safe equipment, have it inspected regularly, and document the results. The specific inspection deadlines follow from the risk assessment and the relevant technical rules – so there is no blanket "once a year is enough" rule, but rather a deadline tailored to your business.
Fines: What Actually Applies
The amount is based, among other things, on Section 25 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Important to know: in practice, fines are often imposed per violation, not as a flat amount per business – with several uninspected equipment groups, this can add up accordingly.
| Violation | Possible Consequence | Legal Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Missing inspection of electrical equipment | Fine up to €30,000 | § 25 ArbSchG |
| Breach of supervisory duty within the business | Regulatory offense | § 130 OWiG |
| Personal injury caused by uninspected equipment | Criminal proceedings possible (negligent bodily harm) | § 229 StGB |
| Fatal accident caused by uninspected equipment | Criminal proceedings possible (negligent homicide) | § 222 StGB |
Personal Liability: You Can't Just "Delegate It Away"
A common misconception: "I have an employee who takes care of that." You can delegate the actual inspection to an electrically skilled person – but the duty of organization itself remains with you as management. In practice, this means: you must ensure inspections actually happen, not just that someone is theoretically responsible for them.
For GmbHs, Section 43 of the GmbH Act (GmbHG) also applies: if management culpably breaches its duty of care, it is personally liable to the company for the resulting damage – independent of any potential criminal prosecution.
An Example That Makes the Difference Tangible
At night, a cable fire breaks out in a workshop, caused by an overloaded power strip that was never inspected. The property damage runs into six figures. The insurer sends an assessor – who asks for the inspection records first.
Without current records, the insurer has an argument to refuse payment in whole or in part: the duty of care was breached, and the damage would likely have been prevented with proper inspection. The business is then left to cover the entire loss – plus lost production, replacement costs, and in the worst case, an existential threat to the company.
Quick Answers
Can I hand off responsibility to an electrically skilled person?
The actual inspection, yes – the duty of organization, no. You still need to ensure inspections happen on schedule and are documented.
What if I simply forgot the inspection?
For the regulatory offense itself, it makes no difference whether it was missed deliberately or by accident. What matters is simply that the inspection did not take place.
Is a one-time inspection enough forever?
No. Recurring inspections are required at intervals determined by your risk assessment – how often depends on the equipment, its use, and its environment.
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