The Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) and the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) have voiced their concerns over “continuing ignorance” of Thorough Examination, the MoT-style accredited scheme operated by their joint venture Consolidated Fork Truck Services (CFTS).
Both associations says the situation “is understandable” given the complexities of the legislation, the detail of the inspection procedures and the potential for variation in both the approach and standards required by different examiners. It was for this very reason they established CFTS, in consultation with the Health & Safety Executive.
Richard Baxter, chairman of CFTS, comments: “We can’t put figures on it at the moment, but it’s clear from our conversations with truck users that a lot of people out there have very little knowledge of what Thorough Examination is all about… and, even more worryingly, many of them don’t know whey have responsibilities in relation to it.”
