The organisation behind the national standard for forklift inspections will be providing essential advice and information on staying compliant with the law and keeping staff safe.
CFTS Technical Managers Matthew Kennedy and Adrian White will be on hand at IMHX 2019 to share the latest guidance on Thorough Examinations, and the important reasons to get in-depth equipment checks.
Any business that owns and uses forklifts on site has a responsibility to those who operate them to make sure that the equipment is safe to use. The best way to do that is to ensure that the lift truck receives a Thorough Examination at least once a year, in accordance with the law. More frequent inspections could be required, for example if the truck works more than 40 hours per week, has removable attachments, or operates in demanding, high-wear environments. It is a forklift owners’ responsibility to ensure that the truck has a valid Report of Thorough Examination before an operator is allowed to use it.
But whereas a car may undergo an MOT, which has a standardised set of requirements, there is no such consistency for forklift trucks. Different inspectors can carry out varying degrees of checks, potentially to the detriment of the operator and the business.
In response to this problem, the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) and the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) worked in consultation with the HSE to create a dedicated organisation responsible for administering the forklift truck industry’s national accreditation scheme for Thorough Examinations — known as Consolidated Fork Truck Services (CFTS).
Adhering to a definitive quality-controlled procedure, a CFTS Thorough Examination inspects safety-critical components, such as brakes and steering (under PUWER 98), as well as lifting mechanisms, such as the mast, forks and chains (under LOLER 98). It also provides a rigorous 34-point procedure specifically for attachments. A key point of difference is that unlike most inspectors, CFTS-accredited engineers can remedy any faults at the end of the examination, so the truck remains operational.
Failure to comply with regulations for Through Examinations puts staff at risk of injury or worse. If equipment does not meet the legal standards of LOLER 98 and PUWER 98, a company may be liable for compensation payments, considerable fines and even prosecution.
At stand 6F212, CFTS Thorough Examination specialists will be available to answer visitors’ questions, as well as provide assistance to those interested in joining its national member network, which currently includes over 500 companies. CFTS will also be running daily competitions giving visitors the chance to win exclusive prizes.
Visit CFTS at IMHX 2019 on stand 6F212.
Adrian White
CFTS, Technical Manager
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