“Thorough Examination of workplace transport takes time”, advises CFTS

Geoff Martin, CFTS Chairman is urging companies to reevaluate how long it takes to carry out safety checks on workplace transport suggesting 45 minutes as a minimum.

CFTS is asking employers to think about how long each Thorough Examination of their lifting equipment is taking – and to question whether the inspections are thorough enough to assure legal compliance and truck safety.

“We do hear stories that these vital and complex safety checks are being completed in as little as 15 minutes,” says Geoff Martin, CFTS Chairman. “Typically, it should take a minimum of 45 minutes for a 1.5 tonne three-wheel electric forklift. Anything less and the inspection could have been rushed. As a truck’s complexity increases, so does its inspection. A conventional telehandler, for example, might take 3 hours to inspect properly. Ultimately, it takes as long as it takes to get the job done right.”

A CFTS Thorough Examination follows a quality-controlled standardised testing process. This includes performing physical examinations on the lifting parts of the truck in accordance with LOLER, as well as on non-lifting parts, such as brakes and steering, under PUWER.

“CFTS Thorough Examinations are not just visual,” adds Martin. “They include accurate, replicable measurements. For example, a CFTS-accredited inspector will jack up the truck to examine the steering and linkages and will use a purpose-designed chain gauge to measure chain wear rather than just judging by eye or using a tape measure.

“A CFTS Thorough Examination takes time, but it’s worth it. So, if someone tells you it can be done in 15 minutes, ask yourself just how thorough this inspection is likely to be. While it may fulfill the bare minimum requirements of the HSE, is that all the assurance you want for the condition of your equipment.”