National forklift truck servicing scheme passes the 300 mark

CFTS is responsible for awarding the accreditations. Its chairman Simon Emery said: "For forklift truck users, this means that – wherever your operations are based in the UK – there is a CFTS accredited company close at hand to help you ensure your fork lift trucks fully comply with the law." Under current legislation, every forklift truck more than 12 months old must hold a current Report of Thorough Examination; responsibility for compliance sits with the owner or user of that truck. Even if the truck is on hire, it is still the duty of the user to ensure that a Thorough Examination has been carried out within the correct timescales. "While other, more generalised programmes address the basic requirements of LOLER 98, the CFTS Thorough Examination procedure is exceptional in that it ensures full compliance with both PUWER 98 and LOLER 98 as they relate specifically to fork lift trucks," explains Emery. "This removes the need for duplicate inspections and provides the user with genuine peace of mind. "Companies accredited to CFTS adhere to a stringent procedural code which makes certain that uniformly high standards are maintained. Every firm accepted onto the scheme benefits from an ongoing and unparalleled level of support – including full access to expert technical back-up." Accredited companies can now be found at www.thoroughexamination.org which includes upgraded search facilities for users. For example, enter a postcode and search radius and the CFTS search engine will deliver – in order of proximity – the full contact details of appropriate companies. Also, the site enables a company search by name, so that owners and operators of forklift trucks can confirm that their current Thorough Examination provider has been accredited to CFTS.