Toyota Material Handling UK (TMHUK) is launching a campaign to boost awareness about the legislation concerning Thorough Examination (TE) and providing guidance to ensure its customers' equipment stays safe and legal.

A Thorough Examination is a legal requirement for forklifts and lifting equipment in the UK, but many customers are unsure what it entails and who is responsible for ensuring that equipment complies.

The national accreditation scheme for Thorough Examination is administered by CFTS (Consolidated Fork Truck Services), an accredited body made up of the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) and the Forklift Truck Association (FLTA).

Phil Bird, TMHUK after-sales director, says like an MOT for a car, a Thorough Examination is "a legal requirement for lifting equipment (but) confusion arises when customers believe [it] is part of a service and are not clear on the benefits of a TE carried out by a CFTS-accredited company".

Toyota intends to provide information to companies on TE, key facts and answers to FAQs, and will run an internal education campaign with its team members.

"A team of Toyota examiners accredited by CFTS will be on hand across the country to give local support to all customers and companies that would like to discuss Thorough Examination further for advice or to book an examination," Bird says.

A 2011 survey of companies owning and operating forklifts found that most Thorough Examinations do not meet user expectations (Forkliftaction.com News #545).

About 93% of owners "make wrong assumptions" over what is covered by the UK forklift safety inspection. A majority are confused by what exactly is included in the forklift safety inspection and who is responsible for ensuring a forklift conforms to legal requirements.