health & safety news l Not so thorough
A survey among companies owning and operating fork lift trucks has found that most Thorough Examinations do not meet user expectations. Indeed, a clear majority is confused by what exactly is included... and who is responsible for making sure a truck conforms to legal requirements.
The survey – conducted by Consolidated Fork Truck Services (CFTS) – involved interviews with UK truck users across a broad cross-section of industrial classifications and fleet sizes.
On the positive side, the research confirmed that a concerted campaign has had a dramatic impact on awareness of Thorough Examination. When asked whether Thorough Examination was a legal requirement or merely good practice in a 2005 survey, around half (54%) answered correctly. Today, that number has risen to 76%. Unfortunately, behind that headline figure there remains considerable confusion regarding what is actually included within a Thorough
Examination. As a result, thousands of managers and directors may be responsible for equipment that simply isn’t being examined as thoroughly as they had anticipated. For example the vast majority of respondents – 93% - incorrectly assumed that any Thorough Examination would automatically include an inspection of their truck’s brakes as a matter of course. According to Simon Emery, chairman of CFTS: “The confusion arises because, unlike the MOT on a car, the requirements of a Thorough Examination are open to interpretation. In effect, the body providing the inspection is able to decide what should and shouldn’t be included. The nub of the problem is that the inspection of fork lift trucks is governed by two separate pieces of legislation: Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98) and Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER 98).
"However, an alarming number of
inspectors only include those items covered by LOLER – such as mast, chains and forks – within their inspection. In doing so they totally ignore crucial areas such as overhead guards, steering, brakes and other vital components. As a result, managers and directors responsible for fork lift trucks may fall foul of PUWER 98 legislation on ensuring the suitability of workplace equipment.”
It was to overcome this untenable situation that the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) and the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) – with the support of the HSE – joined forces to create a single, national procedure available to truck users, wherever their industry or location.
The result is a comprehensive procedure and strict code of practice, a programme of engineer and management training and the mechanism to monitor standards under the CFTS brand name. Companies accredited to the scheme – there are around 400 of them in the UK – can be
identified via the distinctive kite certification mark.
“Customers need to be aware that all Thorough Examinations are not the same. Some are more thorough than others. My advice is that those responsible for the upkeep of fork lift trucks should seek clarification on exactly what is being inspected – or they will get less than they bargained for." They can do that by taking advantage of an online tool that identifies which parts of a fork lift truck are covered by LOLER and which by PUWER (along with details of CFTS accredited companies) at
www.thoroughexamination.org
quality | reliability | value for money
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