Thorough Examination

We will carefully examine all of the sections required by the Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Health and Safety Act to make sure that your equipment is running properly and safely.

Certification

Once your lifting devices have been thoroughly inspected and found to be in proper working order, we will certify your equipment for you. You should keep this safety certification documentation organized and readily available for when an inspector shows up.

A forklift truck safety inspection is a detailed visual and operational inspection of your forklift that is performed by a “competent” person.

The inspection will need to determine that your forklift is running properly and safely in order to pass.

INITIAL INSPECTIONS OF LOAD CAPACITIES:

If you purchase a new or used lifting device, the load-handling capacity needs to be inspected by a "competent" person, before it is used for the first time and at least annually after that. The purchaser is responsible to get these inspections done.

If you lease a lift truck, your leasing company is responsible to get the lifting capacity inspected before you use it for the first time. Ongoing inspections are your responsibility.

ON-GOING INSPECTIONS:

After its initial inspections, you need to get a forklift inspection done at least once a year.

A good practice is doing it after every 2,000 hours of service.

If you use your forklift for double shifts or in severe environmental conditions, then you should get it inspected more often.

The Ontario's Ministry of Labour, Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) states that all lifting devices need to be inspected.

A powered lift truck is defined as "a mobile, power-propelled, self-loading truck equipped with a load carriage and attachments for lifting, transporting and stacking material."

Lifting devices are used to raise or lower any material or object including its rails and other supports.

The rules governing devices that fall under the Elevating Devices Act are different, however, and are outlined in Section 51 of Regulation 851 of the Elevating Devices Act.

Examples of listing devices that require annual inspections include:

• Forklift trucks

• Cranes

• Hoists

• Lifts

• Elevating platforms

The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) requires that a "competent" person do forklift inspections.

The competent person must be familiar with the Act and the regulations that apply to the inspection and have knowledge of any potential or actual dangers to the health or safety of the workplace.

They must also be able to make objective decisions during the examinations and they are obligated to notify the owners of any equipment defects that could become dangerous to workers.

• Knowledge of the personal safety practices required to carry out routine and periodic inspections of lift trucks currently in use;

• Familiarity with the terms used by the Ontario Ministry of Labour's Guideline, of the documents mentioned in the Guideline, as well as industry terminology;

• An understanding of lift truck manuals, manufacturer's specifications, drawings, and their parts lists;

• Knowing the purpose and function of all the devices, accessories, and components usually found on powered lift trucks and being able to inspect them to determine whether or not they are working properly;

• Working knowledge of electrical and electronic control circuit principles

• Working knowledge of mechanical principles of structures, machines, mechanisms, etc.

• Working knowledge of pneumatic principles

LOAD-HANDLING
CAPACITY

The load-handling capacity inspection will determine whether or not your lifting device is capable of handling its maximum rated load.

Carrying a heavier load than your lifting device is capable of is extremely dangerous.

GENERAL SAFETY INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE

The government gives a very general statement for the safety and maintenance of powered lift trucks stating that an employer must make sure that "any equipment is maintained in good condition."

They also state that a lifting device needs to be "constructed and equipped in a way to adequately ensure the safety of all workers."

The forklift owner is responsible to make sure that periodic forklift inspections take place.

Employers need to ensure that regular inspections and repairs are carried out.