CFTS leaflet explains conflicting approaches to forklift safety inspections

A simple laminated leaflet, created to help fork lift engineers and competent persons explain the importance of a truly Thorough Examination has needed to be reprinted – because so many operators, owners and users of fork lift trucks asked to keep it!

Originally, Consolidated Fork Truck Services (CFTS) distributed the information to its 425 accredited member companies to act as a talking point with customers. However, following an enthusiastic response, it will be made available more widely.

The two opposing sides of the double-sided laminated leaflet are designed to clearly illustrate the difference between a LOLER-only Thorough Examination, which focuses on the lifting parts of the truck, and the CFTS approach, which ensures the whole vehicle is safe to use.

CFTS Chairman Richard Hayes said: “Research shows most fork lift owners and operators of fork lift trucks simply assume their regular Thorough Examination has checked the whole truck.

“This could lead to a potentially unsafe situation as it may mean the brakes, the tyres, the counterbalance fittings – in fact, over a dozen vital safety aspects – never get checked.

“Ironically, although Thorough Examination is set out in LOLER 98, that failure to ensure the whole truck is safe could land you in trouble under PUWER 98.

“This leaflet is great, because it makes it really clear: one side shows what's covered as a bare minimum legal LOLER 98 Thorough Examination. The other shows the standard CFTS checks. It really speaks for itself.

“We thought the laminated leaflet would be useful for competent persons, to show why Thorough Examination isn't something you can rush. But managers have asked to keep them so many times, we've had to print more!”

For more information on the CFTS standard for Thorough Examination, check out the interactive guide on this website, here.