Thorough examination
October 1st 2003 The new national scheme for Thorough Examination, the result of whole-industry consultation and development, is something all forklift users need to know about
On 16th October the UK materials handling industry unveiled a definitive new national scheme for Thorough Examination. In a move set to revolutionise safety in materials handling, the initiative will offer total confidence when it comes to assessing a trucks condition.
To understand the significance of this breakthrough, it is useful to compare the process of safety testing in fork trucks with that used for cars.
Imagine what it would be like if there were no cohesive national system for assessing the safe condition of cars and garages were allowed to decide for themselves how to carry out MOT tests. Imagine if an MOT certificate issued by one garage was based on criteria and practices which differed from those used by another.
This is precisely the situation which has applied to forklift examinations. Until now
The new national Thorough Examination scheme will finally fulfil the requirements of LOLER 98 and PUWER 98 legislation. It is being brought to the market by a new joint venture company, Consolidated Fork Truck Services (CFTS) a joint venture between the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) and the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA). Their unrivalled expertise has been combined, in co-operation with the HSE, to produce a unique scheme which carries the authority of the whole industry.
Its two keystones an examination process developed by the forklift industry and a Quality Assurance Procedural Code will bring major benefits to end users and operators.
How will people recognise the national scheme?
Documentation associated with the scheme will bear a distinctive new mark. This will be seen as the mark of quality in Thorough Examination. Only a company accredited to the scheme will be allowed to use the new certification and quality mark. And only companies which have proved themselves capable of and committed to adhering to the strict CFTS Quality Assurance Procedural Code can be accredited.
So what is Thorough Examination?
To remain with the analogy, its a bit like a cars MOT but much more stringent.
Both a Thorough Examination and an MOT are means of certifying that, at the time of testing, all components which have a bearing on safety have been formally inspected and assessed as being in a safe condition.
Just as a cars MOT and 10,000 mile service are two different things, so Thorough Examination is distinctly separate from a trucks regular maintenance programme and would not normally be included in a maintenance agreement, unless specifically requested.
Is Thorough Examination a legal requirement?
Yes, it is required under LOLER 98 (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998) and PUWER 98 (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998). However, this scheme is more comprehensive: it doesnt stop at the bare minimum necessary to avoid prosecution.
As a user of such equipment, what are my obligations?
Every truck in service, including hired trucks and those under a year old, must have a current Report of Thorough Examination. Crucially, the user is responsible for ensuring that the truck has a valid document.
The document must be headed Report of Thorough Examination and must comply with Schedule 1 of LOLER 98. You must be able to produce it when required to do so by an enforcement officer.
The Examination must be carried out at least every 12 months. Depending on the application, use and attachments, this may be required to be to be reduced to 6 or even 4 months. The person carrying out the Thorough Examination the Competent Person will be able to determine the appropriate interval. The same person, or his/her employer, should also be consulted for advice on whether planned changes to the trucks operation or configuration will alter this interval.
What is checked in a Thorough Examination?
The items checked include brakes, steering, hydraulics, tyres, seat restraints and horn. Detailed measurements are taken to identify wear and damage to chains and forks. Particularly close inspection is made of components such as the chain-retaining bolts, mast and carriage.
What happens if something is wrong?
If the defects do not immediately affect safety, a Report of Thorough Examination will still be issued. However, it will identify the defects and state a time by which they must be rectified. The user is responsible for ensuring that the necessary repairs are undertaken within that time.
If the defects are imminently dangerous, the report will state that the equipment must not be used until they have been rectified. This report will normally be copied to the appropriate enforcing authority.
Who can carry out a Thorough Examination?
Someone designated as a Competent Person under the terms of the regulations. To be designated, the examiner must have had appropriate experience and training.
Under the CFTS only people and organisations with close involvement in working with forklifts can claim the necessary intimate knowledge to deliver Thorough Examination effectively. They will have been obliged to sign up to every aspect of the Procedural Code. There are no half measures.
If you look elsewhere for a Thorough Examination, the advice you receive could be seriously flawed. If you depend on other schemes or providers, you could find yourself the victim of low standards, inconsistency or superficial examinations. If the Thorough Examination takes much less than an hour then you should question its quality. For complex equipment, it should take much longer. Any of these shortcomings could easily put the truck owner or hirer on the wrong side of the law. A poorly conducted Thorough Examination could leave a truck in a dangerous condition. The economic impacts of a resulting accident could be catastrophic, as could the cost in human life, health and suffering that may have to be paid if you cut corners when it comes to this vital safety procedure.
As an end user of the scheme, you will be gaining the endorsement of an authoritative and high-profile safety initiative whose distinctive CFTS Thorough Examination stamp of approval will soon be instantly recognisable throughout British industry. This mark will help to give immediate credibility to related documentation and will appear on a sticker similar to a car tax disc attached to every truck which passes examination under the new scheme. The disc will show clearly the Thorough Examination expiry date.
And remember, this is a quality mark, not just an exercise in branding. As such, it carries real authority. Remember, too, that only Thorough Examinations carried out under this scheme are subject to the rigorous CFTS Quality Assurance Procedural Code and endorsed by the quality mark.
By displaying the CFTS Thorough Examination mark on your truck, and being able to show the CFTS-endorsed documents, you will be making a clear statement to your customers and staff that your company is committed to safety. The marks symbolic fork lift tick will stand for excellence and confidence over the months and years ahead.
The distinctive quality mark of the new scheme is the users key to complete peace of mind, says Richard Baxter, Chairman of the FLTA. By opting for an accredited company you can rest assured that your Thorough Examinations will be administered efficiently and carried out to the highest professional standards. In addition, the quality mark will give a stamp of approval to your business.
Brendon Sparks of BITA adds: The advantages of this scheme to forklift users are clear to seeand so are the risks faced by anyone who ignores this new opportunity. We urge everyone to make the safest choice and insist on the CFTS mark of quality.
For further details, including information on how to become accredited to the CFTS Thorough Examination scheme contact:
BITA Tel: 01344 623800
Email: james.clark@bita.org.uk, or FLTA Tel: 01256 381441
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