Forklift Thorough Examination
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
Statutory 6- or 12-monthly thorough examination of forklift trucks under LOLER 1998.
What a forklift thorough examination involves
A forklift thorough examination is the statutory LOLER inspection that confirms your truck is safe to keep lifting. Safe-Lee carries these out for operators across Manchester and the North West, on single trucks and full fleets, and issues the report you need to satisfy the HSE and your insurer. We are an independent consultancy, so we have no interest in selling or maintaining the trucks we examine.
A visit is planned around your operation. Our engineer examines each truck and every attachment, functionally rather than just visually, records the findings, and issues a clear report of thorough examination, typically within one to two working days. For the detail behind the intervals and what is checked, see our forklift thorough examination guide.
What we check on a forklift
Each truck is examined as lifting equipment in its own right. A typical forklift examination covers:
- Mast, channels and rollers, for wear, alignment and free movement
- Lift chains and their anchorages, for stretch, wear and correct tension
- Forks, for heel wear, cracks and distortion, and the fork locating pins
- Hydraulics: lift and tilt cylinders, hoses and connections, for leaks and damage
- Carriage, tilt mechanism and any side-shift or attachment mounting
- Attachments such as clamps, rotators and fork extensions, examined as lifting equipment in their own right
- Brakes, controls and the operator restraint or seat belt
- The rated capacity plate and identification markings
How often a forklift must be examined
LOLER sets the maximum period between thorough examinations. For forklifts:
- Every 12 months for a truck used only to lift and move goods
- Every 6 months where the truck is used to lift people, for example with a working platform or man-cage
- Every 6 months for any lifting accessories used with the truck, such as slings
- Sooner after substantial repair or modification, or an exceptional event such as a collision or overload
These are maximums, not targets. Heavy use or a harsh environment can justify examining more often.
Defects we find most often on a forklift
Forklifts work hard, and the same faults come up repeatedly. Findings we commonly record include:
- Stretched or worn lift chains, and seized or corroded chain anchorages
- Fork heel wear beyond the safe limit, and cracks at the fork heel
- Hydraulic leaks from lift and tilt cylinders or their hoses
- Worn mast rollers and pivot bushes
- A damaged or missing operator seat belt or restraint
- Illegible or missing rated capacity information
Why our forklift examination is independent
Safe-Lee is an independent inspection consultancy. Examinations are carried out by Engineer Surveyor Lee Charnock (EngTech MSOE MBES), reports are typically issued within one to two working days, and we cover Manchester and the North West. Because we do not sell or maintain forklifts, there is no conflict of interest in what we report.
Planning a budget? See our guide to what affects a forklift thorough examination cost, or read more about our LOLER inspection service.
LOLER thorough examination at a glance
The facts that decide what you need and when, in one place.
| Governing regulation | Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, regulation 9 |
|---|---|
| Maximum interval | 6 months for equipment that lifts people and for lifting accessories; 12 months for other lifting equipment; or as set by an examination scheme |
| Also required | After installation or reassembly, and after an exceptional event such as an overload or collision |
| Who must arrange it | The employer or duty holder who controls the equipment |
| Who may carry it out | A competent person, independent enough to report defects without pressure |
| What you receive | A report of thorough examination for each item, with defects classified by urgency and the next due date |
| Typical report turnaround | 1 to 2 working days |
Are Safe-Lee thorough examinations right for you?
We would rather tell you now than after you have booked. Below is who we are a good fit for, who we are not, what this service does not cover, and what else you could do instead, including options we do not sell. Statutory examination is a legal duty rather than a purchase, so the useful question is not whether you need it but whether we are the right people to do it for you.
We are a good fit if
- You are the duty holder or employer responsible for arranging statutory examination
- Your site is in Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire, Cheshire or the surrounding North West
- You want the examination done by someone with no commercial interest in the equipment staying in service
- You have anything from a single forklift or sling to a multi-crane overhead system
We are not the right choice if
- You need the equipment repaired, serviced or maintained. We examine and report, and we do not carry out remedial work
- You need a single provider to cover many sites across the UK on the same day. We are a small independent practice, not a national network
- You need 24/7 emergency callout. Work is scheduled, including out of hours where that avoids disrupting production
What this service does not cover
- Repair, servicing, maintenance or refurbishment of the equipment examined
- Supply, hire or sale of equipment or spare parts
- Any work that would compromise our independence as the examining body
- Load testing or proof testing, which is separate work commissioned when a report calls for it
What else you could do instead
- Your insurer's engineer surveyor scheme
- Check your own policy before buying inspection twice: some cover arranges statutory inspection for lifting and pressure equipment, and where yours does, it is a genuine alternative and for some businesses the right one.
- A national inspection body
- If you have many sites across the UK, or need round-the-clock cover, a large provider will suit you better than we will.
- An in-house competent person
- If you employ someone with the right knowledge and experience who is genuinely independent of the equipment's operation and maintenance, they can carry out the examination themselves.
What we need from you
Having these ready shortens the visit and keeps the quote accurate.
- A list of the equipment to be examined, with identification or serial numbers where they exist
- Previous reports or certificates, if you have them, so we can see the history and the next due dates
- Safe access to each item, including any isolation, permits or escorts your site requires
- Someone available who can operate the equipment if a functional check is needed
- Any examination scheme drawn up for the equipment, if intervals differ from the statutory default
What a thorough examination costs, and what moves the figure
We do not publish a flat rate, because thorough examination work is scoped to your equipment and site and any single figure would be wrong for most readers. Here is what we price on, what a complete quote covers, and how to judge one quote against another, so you can budget before you speak to anyone.
What moves the price
- Number of items. Each piece of lifting equipment and each accessory is examined in turn, so ten slings take longer than one
- Type and complexity. A webbing sling is a quick visual and functional check; an overhead travelling crane or a passenger lift involves structure, ropes or chains, brakes, limit switches and controls
- Inspection interval. Equipment that lifts people, and lifting accessories, are examined every 6 months rather than 12, so they come round twice as often
- Site access and conditions. Equipment at height, in a confined space, or needing isolation adds time, as does out-of-hours work to avoid disrupting production
- Location and travel. A site near our Irlam base involves less travel than one at the edge of the region
- Scope and bundling. Examining LOLER, PSSR, PUWER and LEV equipment on one planned visit is more efficient than separate trips
What a complete quote should cover
- The competent person's time on site, examining to the standard the regulations require
- A written report identifying any defects and classifying them by how urgently they must be addressed
- The date the next examination falls due
- Certification you can show an HSE inspector or your insurer
- Travel to your site
If a quote does not spell these out, ask. The report is the part that proves compliance; an examination with no usable report leaves you no better off than before.
How to compare quotes fairly
Ask every firm the same questions, including us. A cheaper quote usually differs on one of these rather than on the work itself.
| Compare on | Safe-Lee |
|---|---|
| Who carries out the examination, and what qualifications and competent-person status they hold | Stated in writing |
| Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance | Stated in writing |
| Whether they are independent of the equipment's supply, hire and maintenance | Stated in writing |
| Exactly what is included, in writing, with a sample report | Stated in writing |
| How quickly the report is issued after the visit | Stated in writing |
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does a forklift need a thorough examination?
Every 12 months for a truck used only to lift goods, and every 6 months if it is used to lift people. Accessories used with the truck are examined every 6 months. These are LOLER maximum intervals.
Do you examine attachments as well as the truck?
Yes. Clamps, rotators, fork extensions and similar attachments are lifting equipment in their own right and are examined alongside the truck. It is worth confirming attachments are included when you compare any quote.
Can you examine our whole fleet in one visit?
Yes. We plan fleet examinations around your operation, including out of hours where that avoids disrupting production. One planned visit is more efficient than separate trips.
Who is responsible for examining a hired forklift?
It depends on the hire agreement. Confirm whether the duty sits with you or the hire company before the interval falls due.
What happens if a truck fails?
The report records the defect and how urgently it must be addressed. A truck with a serious defect should be taken out of service until it is repaired and re-examined. We explain findings on site and follow up in writing.
Where the LOLER thorough examination rules come from
Everything on this page is our reading of the following documents. They are the authority, not us, so we link them directly and you can check any of it yourself.
- The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
legislation.gov.uk
The statutory instrument itself. Regulation 9 is the thorough examination duty.
- Safe use of lifting equipment (L113)
Health and Safety Executive
The Approved Code of Practice for LOLER. An ACOP has special legal status: follow it and you are doing enough to comply.
- Thorough examination of lifting equipment (INDG422)(PDF)
Health and Safety Executive
HSE's plain-English guide for employers on what a thorough examination is and when it is due.
Need a forklift thorough examination?
Quick conversation, honest scoping, fast quote. Talk to a competent person.