Companies are
forklift trucks inspected more and more often. Yet we still see many forklift trucks on the road without
inspection stickers when we visit a company on behalf of BLOM Opleidingen
. We cannot provide driver training on those forklift trucks. That is why
answer seven questions about forklift truck inspections.
The number of safety inspections in warehouses
rose by over 8 per cent last year. A total of 261,500
inspections were carried out, as reported by the inspection body BMWT last week. These
figures relate not only to forklift trucks, but also to
warehouse racking and lifting equipment.
In principle, that’s good news. Companies are placing
work equipment, according to Jan Hommes, director
of BMWT. Nevertheless, there are still many companies in the Netherlands that do not have their logistics
equipment. When we provide
forklift training on site, we regularly come across forklifts without
inspection stickers. This is reason enough for BLOM Opleidingen to suspend the training.
Is an inspection sticker
a legal requirement?
No, but the Working Conditions Act does state that work equipment
such as forklift trucks must be inspected periodically. The Working Conditions Act does not specify
exactly these inspections should be carried out or how companies must demonstrate that their
forklift trucks have been inspected. The best proof is an inspection sticker from a recognised inspection body
such as BMWT or VA certification. Should a forklift truck accident occur,
the Inspectorate SZW will regard the sticker as evidence that you are complying with the Working Conditions Act.
What does a
inspection sticker look like?
The sticker is round, with a year in the centre and
the months of the year surrounding it. This shows until which month of which
year the inspection is valid. The inspector affixes the sticker after he has
machine has been approved or after any defects have been rectified. On an
inspection form, he records what he has inspected and how any
defects identified should be rectified.
How much does a
forklift inspection cost?
An inspection costs money, but the costs are manageable.
If you combine the annual inspection with a routine service – just
as is often the case with MOT tests for cars – will spend very little extra money
. After all, most of the inspection points are already covered
. This also ensures that the forklift trucks are not out of action for longer than necessary.
Who can carry out the inspection?
You can usually have your forklift truck inspected by your
forklift supplier. Suppliers representing a brand
are usually members of the BMWT. Other organisations
sometimes use the VA-Keur certification, which was created in 2016 following a merger between VEBIT-keur and
COM-Keur. You should therefore first contact your forklift truck supplier and check
otherwise check the websites of BMWT and VA-Keur.
Can I carry out the inspection myself
?
In theory, yes, but of course it’s not
. A supplier is often better placed to assess the condition of
a machine. One-day courses for forklift truck inspectors are
forklift trucks. But what do you actually know about forklift trucks after just one day? The
supplier knows the machine, is aware of the specifications under which it was supplied and
can assess the extent to which its current condition differs from that. They have experience with
wear and tear, damage and incidents at other customers’ sites, and takes all of this into account in
his assessment. The ultimate goal is a safe machine, not simply sticking
a sticker.
Does the
traction battery also need to be inspected?
Absolutely. A chemical process takes place within the battery,
which can only proceed correctly and safely if all the cells, cell caps,
cell connections, tray, lifting eyes and battery cables are all in good working order. Inspecting
requires specialist expertise. To this end, BMWT has drawn up a separate
inspection procedure, in which traction batteries, chargers and
replacement batteries are thoroughly examined.
Who is
responsible for the inspection of hire forklift trucks?
The responsibility for ensuring that approved
machinery lies with the employer. When you hire a forklift truck, you may expect your
supplier to ensure that the forklift trucks have been inspected and remain in a roadworthy condition. However, you remain
ultimately responsible. You should therefore include this as a condition in your hire contract.
Finally: in some companies, it is not just the
inspection sticker, but also the forklift truck user manual. This is required
required by law, but is often nowhere to be found. How can a
operator then learn to operate their forklift correctly?
