8. How do I know that a hired fork lift truck has a current Report of Thorough Examination?
Ask to see a copy of the report.

9. Who can carry out a Thorough Examination?
The legislation refers to a Competent Person. For the purpose of Thorough Examination a Competent Person is an experienced service engineer or examiner who meets the general criteria explained in LOLER 98.

For all practical purposes there are 3 types of person who may carry out a Thorough Examination. (Their titles may vary.)

• An authorised fork lift truck service engineer.
• An insurance company lifting equipment examiner.
• An examiner from a specialist inspection company.

The FLTA firmly believes that an experienced fork lift truck service engineer is best placed to conduct Thorough Examinations provided his/her company has a management system that ensures adequate training, instruction, supervision, quality control, independence, impartiality and integrity.

10. Can my own engineer carry out a Thorough Examination?
(This is a question asked by a variety of companies that own their own fork lift trucks and use their own engineers to service them, along with other plant, lorries, vans etc. The answer below is not directed at fork lift truck companies.)The safest answer is probably not, in the same way that you probably cannot carry out your own MOT inspections....