DAILY
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Operators Pre-use Shift Check & Through Inspection |
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When should an operator inspect the forklift truck? An operator should inspect the forklift truck every day before using. What does a daily inspections involve? The operator should carry out a visual check ("circle" check) before starting the forklift. After completing the visual pre-start check, the operator should do an operational pre-use check. What
should an operator inspect during the visual pre-use check?
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DAILY CHECKLIST (Example only)
It is the responsibility of the operator to ensure that the truck is ready and safe to use Operators Name…………………………………………….….. Date …………………..………… Machine ID…………………………………………………………………. Lift truck pre-use record
After carrying out the above checks please
sign below…
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Operator pre-shift check books
Get a free copy It is important that an operator is able to do a "informed" and "knowledgeable check" of the lift truck that they are going to operate on an employers behalf. This standard has been addressed by the accrediting bodies by incorporating a visual check at the time the operator is tested. And that check is recorded as part of there awareness training. However in most cases that is where this good practice stops. To help with this Thomas Truck Training have designed an "Operators Check Book" that can be used at the start of every shift, and is based on what the operator already knows as good working practice. We have even incorporated a description of what should be checked should the operator forget at the start of a shift at 4AM !! Click here for more details |
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Although the
Thorough Examination of lifting equipment, which includes fork
lift trucks, has been a requirement since 1998, there are still
some areas of confusion and misunderstanding. This applies to all fork lift trucks and pallet trucks but also to other types of lifting equipment.
Any person who is
responsible for the safe and legal use of fork lift trucks
should have a sound understanding of the following information.
A Thorough Examination is a statutory requirement for lifting equipment under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER 98), Regulation 9. It has the same purpose as an MOT inspection by providing a report which identifies that the lifting equipment is safe to use, and/or advice that needs to be followed to avoid risks in use. It is just as important as an MOT — probably more so! There is a legal requirement for a Thorough Examination to be carried out on fork lift trucks at least once a year, and often more frequently depending on conditions of use. There are legal requirements under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98), Regulation 6. They require all safety aspects of the truck to be inspected, and actions specified to remedy any defects found before they can create risks in use. To avoid duplication of effort the inspection of these other items would normally be carried out within the Thorough Examination A Chain Inspection is the name often used for inspections under old legislation. As a term it is out of date. A Thorough Examination includes the inspection of chains and forks, but much more besides A LOLER Inspection is sometimes used, incorrectly, to describe a Thorough Examination. It is used because LOLER is the shortened version of “Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998”. These regulations, and the associated Approved Code of Practice, prescribe the format to be used for the Report of a Thorough Examination. It is safest to stick to the term Thorough Examination A Safety Inspection is a term sometimes used to describe Thorough Examination under LOLER 98 and other inspection requirements under PUWER 98. To avoid confusion the FLTA embraces both requirements within the term Thorough Examination. A Thorough Examination is the inspection of lifting equipment, as required by LOLER 98, and other safety related components or equipment, as required by PUWER 98. A Competent Person is required to examine these items, check them for serviceability and report accordingly. It is not a full maintenance inspection of the truck. A Thorough Examination is substantially different from a maintenance inspection and the Competent Person has different duties to fulfil under the law. Although A Thorough Examination can cover both regulations, it is a single examination.
The employers responsibility. Under Health and Safety legislation the employer has a duty of care — “It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, as far as is reasonably practical, the health, safety and we/fare at work of a/I his employees”. The employer must ensure that the fork lift trucks that his/her operators use are safe. This is achieved through the implementation of a programme of Thorough Examinations. (Remembering that Thorough Examinations run alongside necessary maintenance procedures and checks. But not in place of them.) The employer is the owner of the fork lift truck. His duty is clear. The employer must make arrangements for every fork lift truck to be Thoroughly Examined on a regular basis, at least once per year. (The actual frequency to be determined by a Competent Person.) The employer who is not the owner of the fork lift truck but leases it, or rents it on a long term basis, usually 12 months or more, the responsibility is the same as though the trucks were his own. The employer who is on short term lease or contract of a fork lift truck of say less than 12 months, then the owner of the truck, the rental company, is responsible for arranging the Thorough Examination. However, the employer must still satisfy himself that such an examination has been conducted at an appropriate time. This can be achieved by insisting that a copy of the current Report of Thorough Examination is provided with other rental documentation. If there is not one supplied then demand to see it before you let your employees use the truck. A Competent Person for the purpose of Thorough Examination is an experienced service engineer or examiner who meets the general criteria as explained in LOLER 98
A Competent Persons training should fall into one of the following categories bearing in mind that you probably cannot carry out your own MOT inspections. The important considerations are....
A Thorough Examination on a periodic basis. BITA GN28 recommendations on intervals for periodic Thorough Examination which are......
These guidelines have been issued to HSE Inspectors. There is also a requirement to have a Thorough Examination if the fork lift truck has been involved in a major incident or if it has had significant repairs or renovation.
If the Thorough Examination fails then the Competent Person will make a report. On the report he/she will list any defects they have found. If there are no defects then the fork lift truck can continue in use. With defects that do not create imminent risk. A timescale may be given within which the faults must be rectified. It must within this period, but meanwhile the equipment may continue in use. The equipment may also be taken out of use until the faults have been rectified. The Competent Person will then check that the defects have been rectified within the given period. Where there is a defect that could imminently be of danger to persons, the Competent Person is bound to recommend that the equipment cannot be used until the fault has been rectified. In these circumstances the equipment must be taken out of use immediately. It may not be used again until the defect has been rectified and signed off by a Competent Person. The Competent person reports that the lift truck truck is fit for use. However, he/she does have a duty to send a copy of there report to the relevant enforcing authority in certain situations. This applies where there is, in there opinion, a defect in the equipment involving an existing or imminent risk of serious personal injury. This requirement is limited to those cases where there would be a risk of serious personal injury arising from failure of the equipment should anyone attempt to use it further to the time of the examination. Examples would be a broken link in a chain or a cracked brake pipe. The need for a formal MOT inspection does not apply to a fork lift truck, but it must have a Thorough Examination instead. This is a specific legal requirement and must be completed as such. It may be that faults are found that the Competent Person can fix, if they are also a service engineer, before they leave your site. That’s fine. That’s one of the benefits of using a Competent Person from a fork lift truck company. However, it should be remembered that the Competent Person is legally obliged to comment on safety related faults in the Report of Thorough Examination. That way a true record of the equipment is being kept. That’s in everyone’s best interests, especially the employer. The Thorough Examination is an additional item on your maintenance contracts. It is a separate safety inspection. You may have a contract that includes it, but it should be stated separately. additional item. The company's competent person can carry out a Thorough Examination as you already have cranes and hydraulic jacks and other lifting equipment. Additionally deciding to maintain your fork lift trucks with a fork lift truck company, but have all your lifting equipment Thoroughly Examined by a specialist inspection company A fork lift truck company has your maintenance agreement then they will no doubt arrange and invoice the Thorough Examination separately. You should expect it to be carried out by a different engineer to the one who usually services and/or repairs the truck. This other engineer may also be able to carry out the next due service, but he will treat the Thorough Examination and the service as two different events. This is because he is required to carry out, and report on the Thorough Examination as a specific safety inspection, just like an MOT
The
Thorough Examination is a specific legal requirement
and must be completed as such. It may be that faults are found
that the Competent Person can fix,
if they are also a service Infrequent use of a fork lift has the same requirements for Thorough Examination as any other fork lift No exceptions. The use of hand pallets. There is an argument that more accidents are caused by hand-pallet trucks than by any other types of lifting equipment. Hand pallet trucks come under LOLER 98 but the risks associated with their use are relatively low compared to ride-on trucks. With this in mind, they are not required to have formal safety inspections. However, owners must be able to demonstrate that they have procedures in place that check they are safe to use. Routine maintenance inspections would need to be carried out. The safe recommendation is that they are Thoroughly Examined. It will not be a long or complex task. Consider having them examined at the same time as other equipment. Further information....
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