Training-interval calculator
Under section 12 ArbSchG and section 4 DGUV Regulation 1, training is due on hiring and then at least once a year, for young workers at least every six months (section 29 JArbSchG). In addition, training is due without delay for a new task, new work equipment, a move or conversion, after an accident and after a long absence. The interval is a maximum: earlier is fine, later is not. The calculator counts the cycle on from your last training.
Please enter the date of the last training.
- hiring / starting a new activity
- new work equipment, substances or procedures
- after an accident or near miss
- a changed hazard situation or new regulations
Under section 12 ArbSchG and section 4 DGUV Regulation 1, training is due at least annually, and semi-annually for young workers. The topics follow from your risk assessment. Guidance, not legal advice.
How the interval is calculated
The legal bases are Section 12 ArbSchG and Section 4 DGUV Regulation 1. Training takes place on hiring and regularly thereafter.
If you would rather not organise training and records yourself, the page on the external occupational safety specialist sets out what they take on in an office.
adults: at least once a year
young workers: at least every six months (section 29 JArbSchG)
in addition: as occasions arise, regardless of the cycle
| Employees or occasion | Interval | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| adults | 12 months, at least once a year | section 12 ArbSchG, section 4 DGUV Regulation 1 |
| young workers or increased hazard | 6 months, at least every six months | section 29 JArbSchG |
| hiring | on hiring, before the first session in the cycle | section 12 ArbSchG |
| new activity, new work equipment, relocation, accident, long absence | without delay, regardless of the cycle | section 12 ArbSchG |
The calculator takes the date of the last session and counts the cycle forward. The interval is a maximum: training earlier is always allowed, later is not.
The occasions that override the cycle
Regardless of the annual rhythm, training must follow without delay for:
- a new activity or transfer, including within the same building
- new work equipment or changed processes
- relocation or refurbishment, because escape routes change
- after an accident or near miss
- after a long absence, for example parental leave or a long illness
What the interval does not cover
- The content. It follows from your risk assessment, not from a template.
- The record. Date, the individual topics, the person delivering it and signatures. A list without topics evidences the session but not its content.
- Make-up sessions. Anyone absent from the group session otherwise drops out of the cycle permanently.
Which topics belong in an office is covered in Safety training in the office.
What the record must contain
Inspections fail on the documentation more often than on the content. Every training record should carry:
- Date and duration
- The individual topics, not merely "occupational safety in general"
- Name and function of the person delivering it
- Names of participants with signatures or an equivalent digital confirmation
- Who was absent and when it was made up
That last point is the one most often missing and the first place an inspection gets stuck.
Legal basis
- Occupational Safety and Health Act (ArbSchG) section 12: training on hiring, on changes and at regular intervals.
- DGUV Regulation 1 "Principles of prevention", section 4: training at least once a year, with documentation.
- Young Persons Employment Protection Act (JArbSchG) section 29: six-month cycle for young workers.
- DGUV Rule 100-001, section 2.3.1: explanations on content, occasions and records of training.
Frequently asked questions
Is an email with a PDF enough?
No. Training must be understandable and allow questions. A file sent out, with no evidence that it was read and understood, does not meet the obligation. A documented e-learning unit with a comprehension check can be sufficient.
May I train earlier than after twelve months?
Yes. The cycle is a maximum interval. Many businesses deliberately fix the session in a set month so it does not get lost. Later than the deadline, however, is not permitted.
Does training count as working time?
Yes. It takes place during working time and is paid as working time. It may not be moved into employees' own time.
Do temporary staff and interns need training?
Yes. The obligation attaches to employment, not its duration. Short-term staff and interns must be trained before starting work; for agency workers the obligation falls on the host business.
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