Many examinations still only test a fork lift truck’s lifting components, neglecting safety-critical parts like steering and brakes, when they carry out a “Thorough” Examination, Consolidated Fork Truck Services has warned.
It reckons that every year thousands of companies get stitched up by accepting half a Thorough Examination of their fork lift trucks.
CTFS, the organisation behind the industry’s Thorough Examination standard, has now produced a video highlighting the problem.
It believes the problem, which affects tens of thousands of sites, to be particularly prevalent where Thorough Examination is arranged as part of an annual insurance inspection.
Technically, inspecting lifting parts only does fulfil minimum obligations under LOLER 98 lifting regulations, it said. However, companies remain open to prosecution under PUWER 98 rules if the vehicle as a whole is found to be unsafe.
