Are you working within the law?

While current UK legislation demands that lifting equipment undergo Thorough Examination at routine intervals of at least once every 12 months, the laws governing it leave some room for interpretation… and confusion. 

For managers and supervisors, getting it wrong can come at a heavy cost. With the introduction of Fee for Intervention (FFI), Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act and updates to the Approved Code of Practice (L117), compliance has never been so tough… 

Or so costly. Non-compliance comes at a much heavier cost than ever before, so it’s essential that those most at risk understand their obligations and potential penalties.  

A Thorough Examination is a routine set of checks which ensures your equipment is in good, safe working order. It’s a bit like your car’s MOT as Thorough Examination:

• is a legal requirement that is not satisfied by servicing
• must be carried out at least once every 12 months
• is carried out by a qualified (competent) person.

But that’s possibly where the car comparisons end because there isn’t a single piece of legislation outlining requirements. 

Instead, the Thorough Examination of fork lift trucks is covered by two pieces of legislation: LOLER 98 and PUWER 98.

The 17 regulations of LOLER apply to all lifting equipment in the workplace and across all sectors – regardless of whether equipment (eg dumbwaiter, lift) is used to lift loads or people. 

PUWER, on the other hand, applies to all work equipment – including lift trucks – and covers the non-lifting requirements – including ensuring critical safety components (eg brakes) are in good working order.

While LOLER covers the truck’s lifting mechanism (forks, chains, etc), PUWER applies to all work equipment and covers non-lifting requirement. This includes ensuring safety-critical components, such as the brakes and steering and in good working order.

With two sets of rules to adhere to and no set standards in place, the fork lift industry’s two authorities, BITA and FLTA, set out to establish CFTS and a national Thorough Examination standard. 

It’s consistently comprehensive – ensuring that – wherever your equipment is located within the UK – you can be confident that your equipment will be thoroughly examined by a knowledgeable professional. 

What’s more, you can rest assured your equipment will undergo the same scope of inspection every time.  

From time to time, we hear stories that these vital and complex safety checks are completed in as little as 15 minutes. Typically, it should take more than 45 minutes for a 1.5 tonne three-wheel electric. (And, if it doesn’t, then it’s worth investigating further…) 

As a truck’s complexity increases, so does the depth and duration of its inspection. A conventional telehandler, for example, might take three hours to inspect properly.  Even an attachment undergoing Thorough Examination must be checked against 34 sets of criteria to ensure its safe and legal to use. 

One reason why a CFTS Thorough Examination takes longer is that our trained examiners must follow a quality-controlled process that requires performing accurate physical examinations on key components.

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Your lift truck’s chains, for example, are a vital component of the lifting mechanism. Allowing this to deteriorate could have catastrophic consequences. That’s why we require that every CFTS examiner employs an accurate self-calibrating chain gauge which precisely judges wear and tear. 

By using a precision instrument to measure – rather than a naked eye or steel rule – these results can even be replicated if necessary.  

When CFTS examiners arrive on site, they also carry the equipment necessary to effectively inspect other parts of the truck. A jack, for example, is essential for examining the truck’s brakes and steering.  

Likewise, you can expect them to have an A-frame ladder (or similar). This provides them with the height and safety necessary to clearly observe chain wear at the top of the mast. Arguably, the area where it passes over the rollers is the most crucial for faults.  

Competence you can rely on

At CFTS, we demand a high-level of expertise from our engineers. They are experienced lift truck specialists who have the in-depth knowledge and understanding to identify and categorise defects clearly.  

This ensures your trucks and your site(s) are safer, while keeping you informed of actions needed to deal with any issues.  

Each engineer undergoes a rigorous Thorough Examination course, which must be refreshed every five years. In addition, they must meet our nationally-agreed criteria.  

We expect equally high standards from their employers, too. This is key to ensuring that companies choosing CFTS for Thorough Examinations benefit from exceptional service standards.  

Find out more

CFTS is the body behind a national standard for Thorough Examinations in the UK fork lift truck industry. Established in 2004, it was formed by the sector’s two leading authorities: BITA and FLTA, in close collaboration with the HSE.  

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