Posted By mark linton
I am looking for the views of my learned colleagues.

We currently carry out daily checks on forklifts but we have identified that completion of the checks may best be described as cursory, enforcement / monitoring of the system is patchy, we have issues with the location of the check sheets themselves etc. We are looking at various possible solutions but one that is considerably easier than the rest is to stop doing the checks. I understand we are not dealing with the route cause and it is not good practice to stop doing something because it is hard - which is why it is currently one of a number of possible solutions we are considering.

I can hear the tutting already but please listen to my logic prior to giving me a kicking - I don't believe the daily checks for us are adding value or protecting people even if they were working and I believe the risk of injury is remote from not doing a daily check.

- We are a 24/7 operation, the checks are supposed to be done at 6am (the beginning of every morning shift). So in the majority of circumstances, forklifts will have just been used before the check at 6, any faults prior to 6 should have been reported (our maintenance reporting is good in comparison to the completion of the check sheet) and the potential of a fault developing at shift hand over is fairly unlikely
- Each FLT driver is responsible for checking the truck is safe prior to using it and reporting any issues with it but we don't document those checks so why document the 6am check?
- The existence of a formal check may encourage individual drivers not to carry out their own checks as the FLT is 'safe' to use
- The check itself does not actually certify that the forklift truck is safe to use for the next 24 hours, only that it didn't have a fault at 6am - so I am unsure of the exact benefit of doing it
- I have yet to find a specific legal requirement that compels me to carry out a documented formal daily check of a forklift truck - if I have missed something I welcome the pointer in the right direction.

I don't believe we should be doing things 'just because we have to', there needs to be benifits and I don't see what those benefits are in this instance, but I have been wrong before which is why I would like to know what the arguments are for doing daily checks. I look forward to your comments.

Posted By Bob Youel

list why you should not check such kit and then if you feel that your answers against each comment would satisfy an enforcer / judge and similar stop checking such kit - be it on your own head

I would look at your overall system as against this one aspect cause there may be something wrong there

Posted By Anderson8
Hi,

Not wishing to sound like a boring "know it all", but the specific legislation you are looking for is PUWER 98 (Provision & Use or Work Equipment Regulations 98, Reg 6. So it is a legal requirement. Other aspects of inspection would also fall under LOLER, no, not the dancing girl but the (Lifting Operations & Lifting Equipment Regulations). Not what you wanted to hear granted but true, so in not inspecting you are in breech of these regulations. It is simply not acceptable to use equipment until in fails, in particular something with the level of risk of an FLT, we must try to identify issues before they injure or even kill. I think it's an easy enough thing to set up and manage, and if done properly can save you cost, downtime, prosecution, fines and civil costs. Well worth the time getting it right if you ask me, i know i would want it doing for piece of mind alone.

My advice would be do it, without doubt mate.

Hope this helps!

Posted By garyh
Just ask you insurance company what they think!

In the past I have seen a system where each truck has a booklet in a pocket on the truck.

1st person on the truck on morning shift makes the checks. Engineer checks the booklet twice a week and gets faults fixed.

Easy system which works.

Posted By Anderson8
Good point Suffolkman, you are half right (if that makes any sense) the vehicle, ie wheels, lights, horn etc needs inspecting under PUWER reg 6, however the lifting part of the truck, ie forks, chains etc is inspected under LOLER. That's why i gave the two sets of regs, but didn't want to get over technical really.

Hope that helps :-)

Posted By Anderson8
The regs wont tell us how frequent checks should be done, that's generally down to the risk assessment, however best practice and guidance is before the start of each shift. Makes sense really. I hear what you are saying about planned maintenance and servicing, also statutory LOLER inspections. However the daily check is really to identify any obvious faults, ie impact damage, wheels, lights, horn not working etc.

Posted By Suffolkman
Anderson 8

I have dropped you a mail ref 'technical discussion' as I think this is fairer on the original thread poster

Posted By Anderson8
Hi,

Almost :-)

Absolute duty, not implied. It's too boring to go in to, but the regs help is comply with the Health & Safety at Work Act 74, and you really don't want to be crossing that if possible.

And yes it is to pick up obvious faults,Obvious to those who are trained. And your FLT drivers should be trained to identify these faults, it's part of the training to do so.

They may not get noticed during shift, how would you pick up your rear lights not working during shift?......unless you inspect?

Come on mark, you know it's right mate.

Give me a shout if you need any more help, i may have some example forms and stuff i could send you.

Posted By jayjay
Mark,

If i remember right several years ago a company was prosecuted by the HSE and fined £25,000 which eventually was reduced on appeal. The companies FLT driver was driving with an obscure load on and struck an employee and i think he received a broken leg. When the HSE investigated it the beacon wasn't working and the reversing beeper inoperable. The charge in court was 'failing to provide a written system for reporting defects'.i.e pre-use checks !

Regards, JJ

Posted By jervis
The day you stop checking thats when it goes wrong doesnt take that long to check better be safe than sorry!!

Posted By geordie256
I am new to this site and was curious about the question why do them?
I beleive the answer below clarifies the issue

Pre-use check
74 A pre-use check is an important element of a safe system of work for lifting (ACoP L113 para 285). Employees should have appropriate training, instructions and experience so that they are able to carry it out effectively. Pre-use checks are one of the 3 'monitoring' controls in LOLER (the others being in reg.9, ie inspection and thorough examination) which together present a hierarchy of frequency and (inversely) intensity of checking. They are particularly important for lifting accessories

Posted By mivys
I used a scafftag system in the past, with the holder attached to the windscreen (obviously not obscuring the drivers view etc), when checked the tag was turned over saying safe to use, at the end of the day (or shift) it was turned back saying "do not use" this was a visual reminder to check the FLT before use.... the tag also had the daily checks detailed on the tag for reference. Scafftag (or any similar supplier) can make these up to suit your requirements.

Posted By Martin Savage
One point you are all missing is that completing a pre-shift check and recording it is encouraging ownership by each driver of their own H&S, it also provides an auditable trail in the event of an accident or incident.

One of the major problems in many companies is lack of ownership by employees. "H&S is always someone else's responsibility" syndrome. By getting drivers to carry out a pre-use check, and record it, this factor is being addressed.

The driver can prove that, when the H&S Manager stops him because the wheel is falling off, it was OK when he started the shift. That protects the driver ("Why didn't you report it earlier?" "It's only just happened"), it also makes the driver accountable ("Why is that rear light hanging off?" "It wasn't me" "Well you signed to say it was OK at the start of your shift..")

As with all H&S checks, if the admin is made easy and quick, and the checks clear then the process is more likely to be followed. Regular auditing by managers is also essential.

Posted By Steve Clark
Interesting discussion. If L113 is read you will find it gives LOLER ACoP para 285 and LOLER Guidance - para 286 which makes it clear that there needs to be 'pre-use checks' not once a day checks or once a week checks but checks before it is used. It also states that users need to be trained to identify faults during these pre-use checks.
I also agree with previous contributors ref ownership of individual responsibility. Having dealt with many requests for documentation from solicitors, the pre-use check is always asked for.
My company operates a system of pre-use checks, every shift, that's 3 time s a day. We also have spot checks of MHE to verify that the system is being followed and disciplinary procedures when we identify that it is not being followed. There is also an MHE observation record that is completed for 10% of all operators per month.
The key to all good, robust systems is that you have staff who know what to do and when to do it, they understand its importance, they accept responsibilioty for their actions and you have systems in place for monitoring compliance and systems to deal with non-compliance. This could also be described as a 'safe system of work'. It doesn't matter how many people work in your business, MHE can kill even if you only have 1 FLT. In the last 12 years i have personally had to deal with MHE related fatalities, amputations and other serious injuries - a half hearted system just doesn't cut it, do the right thing, get the right system and if it isn't working, find a way to make it work. There's nothing worse in this job than getting a call to inform you that an employee has just been fataly injured, trust me, if it happens you will be thankful that you did everything that was right.