Instruction manuals (or operating instructions) must be provided by the manufacturer or distributor of a product if its use involves complex procedures and/or if improper handling could present a hazard or damage to persons, the environment or the product itself. Certain legal provisions such as the Regulation relating to Machinery Safety (Maschinensicherheits-verordnung, MSV of 2010) explicitly impose on manufacturers and distributors the obligation to draw up operating instructions (Annex I, 1.7.4, Safety Instructions) in German. The Labour Protection Act (ArbeitnehmerInnenschutzgesetz, ASchG) and the implementing regulations explicitly refer to the contents of instruction manuals (for machines covered by the Regulation relating to Work Equipment (Arbeitsmittelverordnung, AM-VO). Pursuant to the Product Liability Act (Produkthaftungsgesetz) shortcomings in the instruction manual are regarded as equivalent to defects in the product. (See also Instruction Manual in accordance with the Machinery Regulation).
