L.O.L.E.R stands for Lifting Operations & Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. It’s a statutory instrument and to deploy any equipment which cannot met the criteria of the act is a criminal offence.

Similarly, P.U.W.E.R. the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations ’98 covers the safe use of Fork Lift Trucks and similar Materials Handling Equipment (MHE) and the user is responsible for ensuring the MHE in service in their plant is in a safe condition to fulfil the duties expected of it.

All new Fork Lift Trucks, which have been put into service since December 2003 must have a seat belt fitted (Reach Trucks are exempt as are large FLT’s where the risk of an overtip situation is minimal, subject to a recorded risk assessment). And new means new to that owner, i.e. a newly supplied, recently refurbished used truck supplied (hired or purchased) since December ’03 is covered under this legislation.

All Fork Lift Trucks presently in service must have a current annual (or in the case of man rising equipment, a six monthly) Certificate of Thorough Examination (Greater inspection frequencies apply to multishift use trucks).

A thorough Examination is not a service – it’s more akin to an M.O.T. certification on a motor car and can only be completed by a ‘competent person’ with a proven training and experience record.

In the event of trucks supplied on hire contracts of 12 months or longer, responsibility for Certification rests with the user, NOT the owner. Whilst trucks on short term hire contract (i.e. less than 12 months) are the owners responsibility to have a valid, current Certificate of Thorough Examination, it remains the user’s responsibility to ensure such Certification is up to date. Ask for a copy next time you hire a truck for short term hire. Reputable businesses such as Abex will supply a copy on request.

Abex’s Field Service Technicians are trained ‘competent persons’.

Your M.H.E. drivers (or operators to be more precise) do not need a driving licence as such but they do need to demonstrate that they have received full training to an approved standard, and have been tested (and passed) in practice and theory upon the equipment type they are expected to operate.

The capacity of a Fork Lift Truck is a maximum weight at a given distance along the blade of the forks, e.g. 2500kgs @ 500mm Load Centre, and you can overload a truck simply by moving the weight to be handled outwards.

The fitting of any attachment (integral sideshift excluded) to a Fork Lift Truck will reduce it’s capacity by a minimum 10%, and special consideration must be given to the net load capacity when loads are clamped to a truck or held by ropes, sling, etc. e.g. a crane jib carrying a slung load will have it’s static net capacity reduced by a further 50%.