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Can anyone give me some guidance on an issue we have. We sent a forklift truck spreader beam away for repair due to cracked welding. When it was returned it looked like it had been welded by a bricklayer i.e. numerous incomplete runs across the same area, differing thickness of weld and just generally looking untidy and unsafe.
After we got it back like this we requested the welders coded certification and were told he would not supply it but they could certify when and where it was welded. Also there is no evidence of any proof testing, which when queried we were told that was not up to repairer to sort that out.
Can anyone point me towards the regulations that cover repairs such as this. I am quite up to date with LOLER, but this does not really give much info regarding certification of repairs. Up to now, all i have found is the LEEA guidance which does specify that all repairs that are structural require proof testing.
Any help would be gratefully recieved. Thanks
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Dispute the invoice
Challenge the provider to prove the competence of their work and REPORT apparent sub standard work and practices
Meantime you obviously have doubts so do not use the equipment until signed off by your insurer
Tell the provider you are arranging a thorough examination and watch their respjbse
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 2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Dispute the invoice
Challenge the provider to prove the competence of their work and REPORT apparent sub standard work and practices
Meantime you obviously have doubts so do not use the equipment until signed off by your insurer
Tell the provider you are arranging a thorough examination and watch their respjbse
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2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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1 user thanked Kate for this useful post.
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Rank: New forum user
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You will need to carry out a thorough examination of the spreader beam, including the Safe Working Load test certification verifying its strenghts. This work has to be carried by a competent contractor who are accredited and certified to complete LOLER testing. You will need to complete a contractor check to satisfy yourself of the contractors competencies, qualifications and insurances prior to appointing and approving them.
I would suggest that the forklift is not used at all until the appropriate LOLER checks have been carried out, with official documentation and certificates to verify the maximum load bearing capacity (SWL) for the forklift prior to it being put back into operation.
When this has been verified you will need to inform and instruct the forklift operators of the safe working loads to prevent overloading its capacity, thus preventing an accident or injury.
I hope this is of help
Steve
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Rank: New forum user
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The forks on the trucks are produced using spring take. Which permits the forks to flex when grabbing overwhelming burdens. A weld would be a strong piece of the forks and would split under the weight,
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Rank: New forum user
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Gary, regarding the issue of the FLT spreader beam, the welding You feel is not of adequate standard, i would advise the spreader beam is removed from service.,You may have done this already
after the welding is completed the spreader beam must have a thorough examination by a competent person and a 6 month LOLER certificate issued this person must not be involved with the welding repairs. the spreader beam should be load tested and a certificate issued by a competent person the reason for the 6 month thorough examaintion and load test to be completed is the fact the welding is seen as a major repair the person completing the welding must be competent i would ask the welding repairer to provide evidence of the British Standard of the welding completed i would also ask for evidence of ultrasonic non destructive testing of the welding hope this helps regards Seamus
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1 user thanked seamussexton for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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This fork truck spreader beam is a lifting attachment, isn’t it ? separate item from the Fork Truck. It will be a beam which hangs below the forks to allow the FLT to be used like a mini crane, with two or more lifting points below it.
Where is the weld? if it is a fillet weld I don’t think you can UT (Ultrasonic Test) it, but you could use other forms of NDT ( non-destructive testing), ie MPI ( Magnetic partial inspection = lots of iron filings in a solution with a big magnet to highlight cracks). This should really have been done by the welding company to assure you of the weld integrity. If it is a butt weld then yes you can UT it.
As others, have said get it load tested as part of a thorough examination.
It might have been better to have scrapped it and bought a new one and look after it this time :o) certainly would have been worth making the judgement on time and hassle and confidence of end product. Don’t get me wrong repair is fine but you have to pay for it to be done properly.
If it is a very long weld run (which I doubt in this case) you may have stop starts, but they need to be done properly and ground out if necessary to prevent any sharp inclusions.
Chris
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Rank: Super forum user 
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What exactly did you ask of the contractor, and who selected them?
If the purchase spec. said "weld this" then you don't really have recourse to ask for welder codification, LOLER issues etc.
Hindsight's a wonderful thing, but I would have gone back to the OEM for advice and possible repair.
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Rank: New forum user
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Thanks to all replies. We did take this out of service immediately it was returned to us. It is still out of service pending thorough inspection and load testing by our competent person. The repair was carried out by the company that supplies, repairs and services our fork trucks (who are familiar with our sites and the use of the trucks on them) - which should have indicated competence.
The beam is an attachment for the forks and as such is classed as a lifting accessory, meaning it is subject to six monthly testing by competent person. As a footnote, the crack was identified around a month after the beam was inspected by our insurance company competent person as part of the six monthly LOLER inspection. Just a further reminder that people cannot rely on the expert check alone and must carry out regular user checks as well.
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1 user thanked Linewatcher for this useful post.
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Rank: New forum user
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