In a move hailed as its biggest safety advance in many years, the UK materials handling industry has unveiled a definitive new national scheme for the Thorough Examination of fork lift trucks.

For those unfamiliar with Thorough Examination, it is similar in many ways to a car's MOT test, but much more strict. Like an MOT, it is distinct from any maintenance procedure, and is a legal requirement that applies to every fork-lift truck in service, including hired trucks. Unlike an MOT however, it applies to trucks as little as one year old. Significantly, the user is responsible for ensuring that the truck has a valid TE document.

This breakthrough in safety testing has been made possible thanks to an historic collaborative venture between the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) and the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA). Working together as Consolidated Fork Truck Services, and in cooperation with the Health and Safety Executive, they have put 18 months of effort into producing a practical and effective package, which tackles the hitherto serious deficiencies in the practice of Thorough Examination.

Documentation associated with the CFTS scheme will bear a distinctive quality mark featuring a symbolic 'fork-lift tick'. This will also appear on a special sticker applied to every truck passing the examination. Only companies accredited to the scheme will be allowed to use the certification and quality mark. To become accredited, they will have to demonstrate that they have the capability and commitment to adhere to the strict CFTS Quality Assurance Procedural Code.

All trucks must have a Thorough Examination at least once a year in order to comply with HSE legislation. If you have a truck less than a year old which is on hire you should make sure that it has a Thorough Examination sticker attached to it. It will look like the picture on the right.

More information can be obtained from Chas Day
Tel: 01276-502930
Email: charles.day@ntlworld.com

www.thoroughexamination.org