Who may carry out the periodic inspection? The competent person explained
Short answer: who may carry out the periodic inspection?
The question “Who may carry out the periodic inspection of work equipment?” has a clear legal answer — and considerable consequences in practice if it is answered wrongly. An inspection by an unqualified person is legally worthless: the inspection sticker is deemed not to have been issued and the work equipment is considered uninspected.
The inspection must be carried out by a competent person in line with applicable Dutch health and safety rules. This is someone with relevant vocational training, proven work experience with the equipment to be inspected and recent professional practice. For certain cranes, an inspection by an accredited inspection body (such as TUV or DEKRA) is required in addition or exclusively.
The competent person under Dutch health and safety rules
Who may inspect as a competent person follows from the applicable Dutch health and safety rules. In practice, three criteria must be met at the same time:
Relevant vocational training
The training must provide an understanding of the equipment to be inspected. For forklift inspections this may be a mechatronics technician or automotive technician; for aerial work platforms a mechatronics technician or agricultural and construction machinery mechanic; for cranes an engineer or technician specialising in crane inspections.
Work experience with the equipment to be inspected
The experience must relate to the specific machine type. Someone with experience of passenger cars only is not a competent person for forklift inspections — even if they come from the same field.
Recent professional practice
Work in the relevant field must be recent — training in the past without current practice is not enough. No exact period is laid down; as a guide, a break of no more than 2–3 years without practical work on the type of equipment applies.
Competent person, crane specialist, inspection body: the distinction
These three terms are often confused in practice — but they have different meanings and legal requirements:
| Term | Requirement | Used for | Typical parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competent person | Training + work experience + recent practice | Periodic inspection of most work equipment (forklifts, aerial work platforms, construction machinery) | In-house safety engineers, external inspectors with specialist knowledge |
| Crane specialist | Competent person with crane-specific expertise | Periodic inspection of cranes in line with applicable Dutch health and safety rules | Specialist fitters, crane specialists |
| Accredited inspection body | Accreditation, e.g. TUV, DEKRA or comparable | Inspections of certain cranes; greater inspection depth | Accredited inspection engineers |
The terms build on each other: every inspector of an accredited body is also a competent person, but not every competent person is an inspector of an accredited body.
Who may inspect which machine?
Forklifts
Inspector: competent person with work experience in the field of forklifts. No inspection by an inspection body required. Details: Periodic inspection of forklifts →
Construction machinery
Inspector: competent person with knowledge of the machine class in question. Details: Periodic inspection of construction machinery →
Cranes
Periodic inspection: crane specialist (competent person with crane-specific knowledge). For certain cranes: inspection by an accredited inspection body. Details: Periodic inspection of cranes →
Aerial work platforms
Inspector: competent person with relevant qualifications for aerial work platforms, in line with the applicable Dutch rules for work at height. Details: Periodic inspection of aerial work platforms →
Internal or external inspection: decision guide
A competent person can be engaged internally (within your own company) or externally (through an inspection body). Criteria to weigh up:
Internal inspection makes sense if:
- A large own machine fleet and the corresponding qualifications are available
- Inspection staff receive regular further training and are currently active
- Documentation processes are in place
External inspection makes sense if:
- The machine fleet is small or heterogeneous
- No qualified persons are available in-house
- Acquiring the competent person qualification is not economical
- An inspection by an inspection body is required by law (certain cranes)
For rental machines from Luibl Rental, this decision does not arise: as the rental company, Luibl Rental takes care of the inspection organisation and supplies all work equipment with a valid inspection sticker.
How do you become a competent person?
Qualification as a competent person is obtained through external, recognised providers — Luibl Rental does not offer training or qualification programmes. Possible routes:
- Internal or external courses from recognised training institutes and inspection bodies
- Training offered by industry associations
- Manufacturer-specific qualification programmes for certain machine classes
Rent machines with a valid inspection sticker → | Send an enquiry →
Frequently asked questions
Who may carry out a periodic inspection?
A competent person in line with applicable Dutch health and safety rules — with relevant vocational training, work experience with the equipment to be inspected and recent professional practice. For certain cranes, an inspection by an accredited inspection body is also required.
What is a competent person?
A competent person is someone with relevant vocational training, proven experience and recent practice with the work equipment to be inspected. They do not need to show certification from an external body — the qualification results from training, experience and being up to date.
May the employer carry out the inspection personally?
Yes — if they meet the requirements for a competent person: relevant training, work experience with the specific machine type and recent practice. An inspection by someone without these qualifications is legally worthless.
When must an inspection body carry out the inspection?
For certain cranes, the applicable Dutch health and safety rules require an inspection by an accredited inspection body — in addition to the periodic inspection by a crane specialist. Which crane requires which inspection follows from the applicable Dutch health and safety rules.
Where can you qualify as a competent person?
Through external, recognised training providers: training institutes, inspection bodies, industry associations or manufacturer-specific programmes. Luibl Rental does not offer training or qualifications.