All Thorough Examinations are not the same

Unlike an MOT, a Thorough Examination is open to some interpretation - which could cause major problems for employers, says the FLTA

Research indicates that there is still a great deal of confusion among employers regarding exactly what must be inspected when carrying out a Thorugh Examination of a fork lift truck. Most know it includes the forks and the lift mechanism (it is, after all, a fork lift truck), but what about the brakes and the steering? Surprisingly, perhaps, the answer depends on which version of Thorough Examination you sign up to.

Unlike automotive MOTs, the inspection procedure for Thorough Examinations is open to a fair degree of interpretation. This means that, in effect, a provider is able to decide what should and shouldn't be included.

It was to overcome this untenable situation that the two leading organisations in the fork lift truck industry - the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) and the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) - joined forces to create a single, national procedure available to truck users, wherever their industry or location. The resulting delivery body, Consolidated Fork Truck Services (CFTS), established a comprehensive procedure and strict code of practice, recruited expert staff, provided management training and put in place the mechanism to monitor standards. Companies accredited to the scheme can be identified via the distinctive "kite" certification mark.

What are the differences? According to CFTS technical manager Chas Day: "The nub of the problem is that there simply isn't a single piece of legislation exclusively for fork lift trucks.

Instead, they are governed by two separate pieces of legislation: Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98), which covers everything from photocopiers to motor vehicles, and Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER 98), which also embraces equipment such as tower cranes and dumb waiters in restaurants.

"The task facing CFTS was to establish a "best practice" process that offers the appropriate level of inspection to the equipment... and the greatest level of protection to those responsible for the safety of the fork lift truck operator (and the many more coworkers and pedestrians who come into contact with what is a very dangerous piece of equipment) "Examining your truck against one set of criteria without the other clearly leaves many crucial elements of your truck unchecked... and in a potentially dangerous state.

"Yet there are still inspections being carried out under the banner of Thorough Examination that only check those items covered by LOLER (indicated by the blue items in the photograph). In our view, that really is only doing half the job. How can you claim to have properly inspected a truck for safety if those items that come under PUWER (shown in red) are simply ignored? In my view that leaves unsuspecting managers and directors potentially exposed to prosecution should anything go wrong. "

How thorough are your Thorough Examinations? Visit www.thoroughexamination.org to check whether your Thorough Examination provider meets CFTS standards. Simply enter your post code in our member finder tool to find out whether your firm has received accreditation.

While there, you can find also find answers to frequently asked questions or watch a short explanatory video about Thorough Examination.

You are also welcome to call 01276 502930, fax 01276 502930 or email mail@thoroughexamination.org.