New Modular Course Targets High-Voltage Safety as Germany Races to Train Skilled Workers
Veröffentlicht: 12.06.2026 um 05:02 Uhr, Redaktion boerse-global.de
Now the rapid spread of electric vehicles is pushing the need for properly qualified high-voltage specialists — and forcing the trade to rethink how it trains its newcomers.
Between 2000 and 2015, the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) recorded between 36 and 100 deaths annually from electrical accidents. Around 90 percent of those fatalities occurred in the low-voltage range. But with electromobility, dangers emerge at far lower thresholds: electric shock or arc-flash hazards exist starting at 25 volts AC or 60 volts DC.
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The statutory accident insurance rule DGUV 109-009 is unambiguous: only certified professionals may work on high-voltage systems above 30 volts AC or 60 volts DC. Companies like Kranpunkten are ramping up employee training for voltage class B as demand for electric work machines surges.
Seven Modules, One Goal
In June 2026 the Central Association of German Electrical and Information Technology Trades (ZVEH) released a new partial-qualification set. Designed for individuals aged 25 and older, the curriculum is divided into seven modular units. Its objective — prepare participants for the external journeyman examination.
To introduce the program, the ZVEH plans two informational webinars on June 26 and June 30.
Regional initiatives are also underway. The Koblenz Chamber of Crafts is offering high-voltage qualifications in June and October. In Austria, WIFI Vienna will train technicians in September and November across 16 teaching units covering high-voltage system construction and personal protective equipment.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, the chambers of industry and commerce are focusing on follow-up certification. Roughly 1.3 million people in that state hold no vocational qualification. Through partial qualifications in Cologne, Bonn, and the Münsterland region, participants can earn certificates and, over time, recognized degrees.
More Than Just Training
Technological advances are running in parallel. At the "smarter E Europe" trade fair in Munich (June 23–25, 2026), OMRON is unveiling new high-voltage printed-circuit-board relays. These replace conventional contactors, handle AC up to one kilovolt and DC up to 1,500 volts, and reduce the weight of fast-charging stations.
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Meanwhile, figures from Baden-Württemberg's electrical trades show a record 5,831 apprentices at the start of the year. Yet industry representatives warn that bureaucratic hurdles are throttling new business formations. Policymakers have promised measures to cut red tape. Whether those pledges will be enough to accelerate the broader transformation remains open.
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