Hi Koskie, if you have any H&S audit process then the auditor will expect to see the evidence that pre-use checks have been carried out. Should an incident occur where the safety of the MEWP or the way it was used is implicated then evidence of these checks may be useful in convincing the Enforcement Agency/insurer/claimant/solicitor of the robustness of your systems. However, I suggest that there is no need to retain these any longer than is necessary to achieve these aims. 12 months records may suffice.

Thanks for your help with this. The MEWPs are being used on a manufacturing site and are hired in as and when required (3 or 4 times a month, for a period of a few days at a time). We have toyed with using the MEWP Tag system (similar to Scafftag whereby the previous check is wiped off) but no records would be retained. It would be a user friendly system but am worried about not being able to provide an audit trail.

We have literally thousands of items that require pre-use checks…LGV, MHE, MEWPs, Scissor Lifts etc.. some require three pre-use checks a day (one for each shift / operator), so record keeping would be a major concern and expense if we were to hold these records for any substantial length of time. Basically, we hold for a month in arrears – to evidence checks are being performed – then bin them. (There will always be at least one month’s arrears on file). Should there be a defect, then the check sheet is retained and clipped to the defect note – retained on file for three years. Should there be a safety related incident/disciplinary, then the check is retained with the evidence to support follow up action and filed accordingly. Hope this helps. If you have equipment on short term hire (days) and pre use checks identify defects, I would advise you pass these over when you de-hire the equipment... they may simply bin them but at least you are doing your part.