The Consolidated Fork Truck Services (CFTS) is launching a major national campaign at the coming IMHX expo in Birmingham to warn forklift managers of the dangers of incomplete Thorough Examinations.

According to CFTS, many examinations only test a forklift's lifting components and neglect safety-critical parts like steering and brakes.

CFTS believes the problem, which it says affects tens of thousands of sites, is particularly prevalent where Thorough Examination is arranged as part of an annual insurance inspection.

Technically, inspecting lifting parts only does fulfill minimum obligations under LOLER 98 lifting regulations. However, companies remain open to prosecution under PUWER 98 rules if the vehicle as a whole is found to be unsafe, it says.

"Just because you've had a so-called Thorough Examination, doesn't mean your forklift is safe," says CFTS chairman Richard Hayes. "Managers need to be on top of what's being checked and - crucially - what isn't."

CFTS was created by the two leading organisations in the forklift industry - the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) and the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA), with the support of the Health and Safety Executive.

CFTS offers a single, national procedure for forklift users in response to a situation where individual inspectors could decide what aspects of a forklift should be covered by a Thorough Examination.

The CFTS banner covers comprehensive procedure and strict code of practice, a programme of engineer and management training plus the mechanism to monitor standards. The 400-plus companies accredited to the scheme display the distinctive "kite" certification mark.