No half measures

To the surprise of many, there is no single piece of legislation that deals with the Thorough Examination and inspection of forklift trucks.

Instead, there are two sets of regulations: LOLER 98 covers the lifting parts of the truck; PUWER 98 covers safety-related items, such as brakes, steering and tyres.

But this leads to a lot of confusion. To overcome this, the two leading organisations in the forklift truck industry – the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) and the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) – worked in consultation with the HSE to create a single inspection procedure available to truck users, whatever their industry or wherever their location.  

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The resulting organisation, Consolidated Fork Truck Services (CFTS), established a comprehensive procedure and strict code of practice. It gives forklift truck users a consistent, safe national standard certain to fulfil the requirements of both LOLER 98 and PUWER 98. It is also backed by dedicated training of competent persons, unparalleled technical expertise and complete traceability.

The CFTS standard has been developed to meet the needs of the wide range of lift trucks in operation so the exact nature of the inspection is appropriate to the equipment.

Service you can trust

CFTS delivers all of the safety objectives of Thorough Examination. It also covers additional inspections across areas known to be necessary for safe operation. Few outside the industry can claim such authority and familiarity with the examination procedure and commitment to its aims. No other scheme has the full backing of the relevant industry trade associations.

Examiners employed by inspection companies may cover a wide range of equipment, but CFTS-accredited forklift truck engineers will have the in-depth knowledge to identify and categorise defects more clearly than examiners from a broader background. Their training as a Competent Person includes a demanding course on Thorough Examination and they must meet nationally agreed criteria in this role. Correspondingly high levels of training and experience are also required of their managers.

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Crucially, companies conducting Thorough Examinations under the CFTS scheme will have been obliged to sign up to every aspect of the Procedural Code. There are no half measures.

Keeping you up and running

Another point of difference between the approach of CFTS and other inspection companies is what happens in the case of non-compliance. Most inspectors’ involvement ends with identifying a problem, leaving the customer to side-line the truck until further notice.

By contrast, CFTS members employ fully trained forklift engineers who, having completed the inspection, can then remedy any faults so you stay operational — similar to a car MOT.

Look for the mark

CFTS is identified by its distinctive kitemark, found on literature, certification, reports and truck stickers that advise when your next examination is due. Only companies officially accredited to CFTS are able to use this certification mark.

Each company accredited to CFTS is routinely inspected and operates in alignment with up-to-date regulations. By choosing a CFTS-accredited company, you can be sure that your Thorough Examination will be in-depth and meet the highest standards.

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For anyone reconsidering their Thorough Examination provision in the light of all this, it is worth noting that inspection companies have no legal right to insist that their own inspectors carry out your Thorough Examinations. You are perfectly at liberty to make your own arrangements (which may prove cheaper as well as more thorough). 

How frequent should Thorough Examinations be?

Thorough Examinations are required at least once every 12 months. But LOLER 98 makes it clear that they could be required more frequently — depending on the challenges the truck faces. This includes:

• Truck type
• Hours worked per week
• Operating environment
• Whether it has been fitted with non-permanent attachments
• If it is ever used for lifting people — no matter how infrequently — including working platforms and cages

CFTS offers an interactive tool on its website where you can find out when your next Thorough Examination is due.

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