National Forklift Safety Day wins support of leading accrediting body
28 April 2023
Ensuring equipment is fit for purpose is a crucial part of site safety
CFTS, the UK's foremost accrediting body for Thorough Examination of forklift and warehouse trucks, is throwing its full support behind this year's National Forklift Safety Day, scheduled for Tuesday 13th June, 2023.
"This year's event focuses on the theme 'Safe Sites Save Lives'," explains Geoff Martin, Chairman of CFTS. "The cornerstone of any safe site lies in a structure that ensures all lifting equipment is fit for purpose and in proper working condition. This necessitates a detailed, periodic inspection.”
A Thorough Examination of lifting equipment is comparable to an MOT for cars, but there remains some uncertainty among owners and operators as to what should be included during the inspection.
"The HSE emphasises that a Thorough Examination must address both the lifting and driving mechanisms of the truck, fulfilling the requirements of both LOLER (which covers lifting equipment) and PUWER (which covers other safety-related items like brakes, steering, and tyres),” continues Geoff.
"In addition to these requirements, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 obligates every employer to exercise a duty of care towards their employees. A truck that hasn't had its brakes, steering, or structural integrity inspected is not considered safe.
"Unfortunately, a concerning number of examinations are only partially completed because they solely address LOLER requirements. This oversight could endanger equipment, operators, and businesses themselves.
"The frequency of Thorough Examinations depends on various factors, such as the environment, type of truck, and the work it performs. If a temporary attachment is added, it may also require a separate inspection. That's why CFTS collaborated with attachment manufacturers to develop a dedicated and unique inspection checklist specifically for this purpose.
"We wholeheartedly commend the efforts made by UKMHA in exploring all aspects of site safety and are proud to contribute to the spread of its message as widely as possible.”
