Equipment owners urged to review inspection programme

Following a busy Christmas period, work equipment owners are being advised to examine their maintenance and inspection schedules to ensure everything is kept at a safe and legal standard throughout 2022.

CFTS – the industry’s accrediting body for Thorough Examinations in the UK – is aware that thousands of trucks and attachments may not currently have a suitable Thorough Examination plan to ensure they fulfil all requirements under LOLER and PUWER.

Geoff Martin, CFTS Chairman, explained: “A huge number of businesses have been working flat-out in recent months, so January is an ideal time to take stock and assess the condition of equipment.

“I’d suggest that your first step should be to check the truck’s paperwork for the last inspection date and see if there is a sticker on the equipment bearing the CFTS Quality Mark. If you don’t know what you are looking for, talk to the person at your company who oversees the equipment.”

Many companies also find themselves unclear over whose responsibility it is to book the inspections when trucks are leased or hired. It’s often assumed that any liability is with the company the trucks are hired from, but this is only sometimes the case. Speak to the hiring company if you are unsure of your obligations.

When trucks are owned outright, the responsibility is yours and if you let the inspection period lapse, you could potentially leave yourself open to fines or worse — letting the equipment become unsafe.

There is also a common misconception that the inspection is simply an annual undertaking, but in reality, it isn’t quite that simple.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all rule,” said Geoff Martin. “It’s important that each piece of equipment is on its own schedule appropriate to its type and use. Your nearest CFTS-accredited member will be able to advise on the frequency of inspections required on a case-by-case basis.

“And with the ever-changing situation we find ourselves in, it’s always best to be fully prepared as early as possible.”