The Verwaltungs-Berufsgenossenschaft (VBG), the provider of statutory accident insurance in Germany, collects best-practice examples as part of the “VBG_NEXT – Developing Prevention Together” initiative, which are intended to improve health protection and occupational safety in companies. As a VBG member company, Lokomotion took the opportunity to submit a project from the technical department.
As part of the “BR 139: Modification of Steps and Handrails” project, Lokomotion developed an exemplary solution to improve occupational safety. The project team optimized the very sparsely designed steps of the BR 139 by attaching larger treads and longer handrails. The modification reduced the risk of falls for locomotive drivers, thereby significantly improving occupational safety. After Lokomotion reported the modification to the responsible authority, the Federal Railway Authority (EBA), the Federal Railway Authority initiated the approval. An operating license was not required, as the modification did not constitute a conversion requiring a permit.
In the logistics industry, Lokomotion is one of the first railway undertakings to participate in the VBG_NEXT program. For the successful completion of the project, Lokomotion received the certificate for exemplary prevention for safety and health at work in October 2020.
