Everyone knows that having a LOLER is of great importance when it comes to equipment safety, writes Geoff Martin, Chairman at CFTS.
But recent studies have shown that of these people that know about LOLER, very few have heard about the joint necessity of both a LOLER and a PUWER, to have a truly Thorough Examination.
To comply fully with HSE guidelines – and keep you on the right side of the law – a Thorough Examination must include not just the lifting and hydraulic components (as prescribed under LOLER) but also the brakes, steering, tyres and the rest of the parts of the machinery as required under PUWER.
Only with both of these checked can you have a truly Thorough Examination. And this, naturally, can take a great deal of time away from your day-to-day operations. However, it’s paramount that no matter how long it takes (depending on the size and variation of equipment) you do not rush the process.
Rushing a Thorough Examination can result in a poorly checked set of equipment, meaning you might miss issues which can lead to further complications, fines or even fatalities in the workplace.
Another important part of a Thorough Examination is the equipment used by the inspector carrying out the examination. Leading experts agree that traditional tools such as steel rulers cannot be relied on to deliver the accurate measurements needed to show exact increments of wear. As a result of this, they do not provide you, as manager, with the confidence you need to feel your equipment has been truly inspected to the highest standard.
To combat this, CFTS accredited examiners will typically use:
•Professional fork wear gauge: designed to precisely measure the percentage of wear (between 0-10%) on fork heels.
•Professional chain wear gauge: measures leaf chain and roller chain wear by indicating the exact percentage of elongation (indicating when chains need a replacement).
•Fork wear caliper: checks fork angle, fork hooks and fork blade maximum wear.
•Digital angle protractor and set square: measures fork angles to ensure damaged or bent forks do not go beyond manufactured limits.
If your current provider doesn’t carry these items, you need to wonder how they can carry out a truly Thorough Examination.
Why a Thorough Examination is so important
It’s not just a box ticking exercise. Done properly by a competent, accredited person, a Thorough Examination is a timely opportunity to inspect all safety-critical components and fix faults before they cause costly unplanned downtime and a much bigger problem.
To find out more visit www.thoroughexamination.org
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