Working Equipment, Construction Products and Mechanical Protective Equipment

The focal points in the field of PPE against physical hazards are:

• Testing/certifying and advising on PPEs against physical hazards (protective clothing, safety gloves, protective headwear, foot protection)
• Investigating accidents on PPE against physical hazards; basic research into technical safety issues regarding the use of PPE against physical hazards
• Devising test guidelines and cooperating in the relevant standard-setting bodies for PPE against physical hazards

The responsibilities in the field of transportation and traffic systems include:

• Testing and conducting basic research into the area of mechanical safety of transporting and lifting equipment
• Testing and studying fastening materials and other elements for securing loads on lorries

The focal points in the field of constructional elements/construction products are:

• Testing the anti-slip properties of floor coverings ()
• Testing ladders and steps; accident investigations and examination of technical issues relating to the use of ladders and steps ()
• Examination of the mechanical safety of constructional elements such as windows, doors () and gates
• Testing temporary structures (scaffolding) and parts used temporarily for the erection and maintenance of building structures, particularly collective protective equipment ()
• Technical safety studies of construction products that indicate traffic routes and secure them
• Testing the safety against falls through construction components
• Performance of tests on construction products in the course of development
• Studying transport safety and practicality for use of large-area enclosure elements for walls, ceilings and roofs
• Analysis of damage and injury resulting from constructional element failure, especially as related to occupational accidents
• Development of test specifications and participation in the relevant standardization committees for temporary auxiliary construction materials

The following responsibilities are included in the field materials and tools:

• Testing metallic and non-metallic materials; advice on questions of materials
• Testing the mechanical safety of rotating tools, especially grinding tools (); developing test procedures for grinding tools and investigating accidents causing damage or injury during their use
• Conducting basic research () on the design and the dimensioning as well as testing of guards ()
• Analysing failures and investigating accidents on machine elements, components and technical working equipment
• Studying the aging () of components and technical working equipment made from plastics