Thorough examination of industrial forklifts is required under LOLER 1998.

CFTS, the national UK body for Thorough Examination, has warned that many forklifts are possibly operating illegally after a London meat company was fined for failing to conduct routine inspections.

MIB United Meat Ltd of Enfield, Middlesex was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after admitting three breaches of safety legislation.

The court heard that an HSE inspector received a document via email that proved to be a fraud after asking to see the vehicle examination records for the company's 2.5 T counterbalance forklift.

HSE found that the forklift had never been examined, as required by safety rules for lifting equipment, since being purchased in August 2011.

A HSE specialist mechanical inspector who examined the forklift in April 2013 found more than 40 faults, including some that could have endangered its operator.

MIB was fined a total of GBP18,000 (USD28,216) and ordered to pay GBP2314 (USD3,627) in full costs.

According to CFTS, this infringement could simply be the tip of the iceberg - with well in excess of 300,000 forklifts believed to be in current operation.

CFTS chairman Mike Mathias explains: "Although shocking, this case is not as exceptional as it should be. There are many truck operators who are unaware of their responsibilities."

What a Thorough Examination should involve.

According to the HSE, "Thorough examination of industrial lift trucks is required under health and safety law LOLER 1998, which covers lifting equipment, and PUWER 1998, which deals with all other safety-related items, such as brakes, steering and tyres."

Mathias adds: "Just like a car's MOT (Ministry of Transport test), every forklift needs a Thorough Examination at least every 12 months - and it could be even more frequently depending on the type of truck and the individual application.

"I would urge anyone who is unsure of their position to visit the CFTS website where they can find out which parts of the forklift should be inspected and how often a Thorough Examination is necessary. In addition, they can find out where to get further advice from CFTS accredited companies in their area."

Consolidated Fork Truck Services (CFTS) was created by the two leading organisations in the UK forklift truck industry - the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) and the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA), with the support of the HSE.