health and safety news

HSE clarifies LOLER position on hand pallet trucks

Here is an article by Peter Macleod of BITA which explains the Health and Safety Executive's position on low level hand pallet trucks. This article was first published about eighteen months ago but it's worth repeating.

There has been considerable confusion in the marketplace as to whether low-lift equipment such as a hand pallet truck – which only raises the load sufficiently clear of the floor to enable horizontal movement – is subject to LOLER examination. BITA guidance has always been that this equipment is not carrying out a lifting operation, and is not, therefore, subject to LOLER.

The HSE confirms this view and has recently updated its Approved Code of Practice to clarify that LOLER applies to “high-lift pallet trucks, both manual and powered, that have the ability to raise the forks above 300mm”. The approved code of practice can be downloaded free of charge from www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l113.htm.

We have updated BITA Guidance Note GN28, Thorough Examination And Safety Inspections Of Industrial Lift Trucks, to align with the latest guidance. A complimentary copy has been emailed to all BITA members.