I am struggling to work out if a tipping skip attachment for a telehandler requires a certificate of thorough examination. I think it does but the hire company is convinced it does not. I have looked at the LOLER regs and it falls under the meaning as a lifting accessory and using the flow cart in figure 1 of the ACOP L113 it falls under LOLER. I have also looked at the guidance to HSE inspectors found here http://www.hse.gov.uk/fo...00-299/234_11.htm#para10 Sections 6 & 14 seem to imply thorough examination would be based on risk. The operations involve loading the skip with waste metal and moving it to a skip. The load and access is awkward and involves manouvering through a public car park so the risk is high in my opinion. My only reservation is section 25 of the above guidance which mentions skips: should be treated as 'the load', as they normally remain with the contents once the lifting operation is complete. Any further thoughts or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Where I previously worked we had small tipping skips which were designed to go onto FLT forks, then to be emptied into larger skips outside. These did have a thorough examination. The point being the catch mechanism if nothing else would require a PUWER inspection as its failure would not have been good. Whether it is LOLER or PUWER then becomes a mute argument as the inspecting company will advise, but I would suggest you need to do it. Especially in the operating conditions you describe. Your note about section 25 is not the same as you have, as the skip is not designed to stay with the contents. It has been specifically been designed to be emptied. We had a couple of these catch mechanism's fail, so we added them to our own internal maintenance schedule to be checked as well as the thorough examination. Chris