What Is a Thorough Examination?

A Thorough Examination is a legally required inspection designed to ensure that a lift truck or item of materials handling equipment is safe to operate. It is often compared to an MOT for vehicles, but it is a statutory safety inspection, not a service or maintenance check.

Under health and safety law, all work equipment must undergo a Thorough Examination at least once every 12 months, and in some cases more frequently, depending on the type of truck and its usage.

Legal Requirements

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states that Thorough Examinations are required under:

• LOLER 1998 – covering lifting equipment and lifting mechanisms

• PUWER 1998 – covering all other safety-critical components such as brakes, steering, tyres, and controls

Importantly, routine servicing, inspections, or planned maintenance do not count as a Thorough Examination.

Why LOLER Alone Is Not Enough

Some inspections only assess the lifting components of a truck to meet LOLER requirements. However, this is only part of your legal obligation.

PUWER requires that all safety-related parts of the equipment are examined, including the driving and braking systems. Inspections that fail to cover both LOLER and PUWER can leave equipment, operators, and businesses at risk.

A proper Thorough Examination must assess both the lifting and non-lifting elements of the machine.

CFTS-Accredited Thorough Examinations

For complete peace of mind, LDM Engineering provides Thorough Examinations carried out by a CFTS-accredited Competent Person.

The CFTS (Consolidated Fork Truck Services) standard is the nationally recognised benchmark for Thorough Examinations and guarantees compliance with both LOLER 1998 and PUWER 1998.

The CFTS mark confirms that:

• The examination is genuinely thorough

• All critical components are inspected, not just the lifting mechanism

• Safety systems such as brakes, steering, and controls are fully checked

• Your legal responsibilities are fully met

Interactive Equipment Guides

Not all equipment is regulated in the same way. To help operators understand what must be examined under LOLER and PUWER, CFTS has developed interactive guides for different types of materials handling equipment.

These guides clearly show which parts of each vehicle fall under which regulation, helping you understand what a proper Thorough Examination should include.

Telehandlers

A CFTS Thorough Examination for telehandlers covers both lifting and driving components, ensuring the machine is safe to lift, steer, brake, and operate.

Tractors

Tractor examinations must also meet both LOLER and PUWER requirements, with safety-critical systems inspected in full.

A Truly Thorough Examination

A genuine Thorough Examination should never be limited to lifting components alone. It must include all safety-related parts of the machine, ensuring it is safe to operate in real working conditions.

With LDM Engineering, you can be confident your Thorough Examination meets the highest industry standards and fully complies with UK health and safety law.

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