FAQs - On Forklift Equipment

1. What is a Thorough Examination?
A Thorough Examination is a statutory requirement for lifting equipment under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER 98), Regulation 9. It has the same purpose as an MOT inspection by providing a report which identifies whether or not the lifting equipment is safe to use, and/or advice that needs to be followed to avoid risks in use. It is just as important as an MOT – probably more so! There is a legal requirement for a Thorough Examination to be carried out on fork lift trucks at least once a year, and often more frequently depending on conditions of use.
There are legal requirements under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98), Regulation 6. They require all safety aspects of the truck to be inspected, and actions specified to remedy any defects found before they can create risks in use. To avoid duplication of effort the inspection of these other items would normally be carried out within the Thorough Examination.

2. What is a LOLER Inspection?
This is the name often used for inspections under old legislation. As a term it is out of date. A Thorough Examination includes the inspection of chains and forks, but much more besides. and an equally short test answer

3. What is a Chain & Forks Inspection?
The term LOLER Inspection is sometimes used, incorrectly, to describe a Thorough Examination. It is used because LOLER is the shortened version of “Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998”. These regulations, and the associated Approved Code of Practice, prescribe the format to be used for the Report of a Thorough Examination. It is safest to stick to the term Thorough Examination.