Forklift Work Platform Inspections

Forklift Work Platform Inspections – Ensure Safe Working at Height, Stay Legally Compliant

Why Forklift Work Platform Inspections are Essential

Working at height remains one of the most hazardous activities faced by British industry, with falls responsible for 24% of worker fatalities in 2021/22. Tragically, a substantial number of accidents occur when unsafe platforms—or even pallets or buckets—are used to lift people with forklift trucks. Forklift work platform inspections are a critical defence against these risks, ensuring that every lifting operation is properly planned, equipment is fit-for-purpose, and both operators and elevated workers are protected from needless injury.

Regulation is clear: PUWER, LOLER, and WAHR put the onus on every employer to rigorously inspect and maintain platforms, and select the right equipment for every task. At HSE Store, we help UK businesses stay compliant and keep their teams safe with best-in-class inspection products, guiding safer working practices for every job involving forklift work platforms.

Our Range of Forklift Work Platform Inspection Products

HSE Store offers a complete suite of forklift work platform inspection solutions from Good to Go Safety – designed for non-integrated working platforms (also known as forklift cages, man cages, or access platforms):

• Forklift Work Platform Checklists/Check Books: Pre-use inspection checklists aligned with LOLER, PUWER, and WAHR regulations. Duplicate carbon copy sheets are retained for management records and compliance auditing.

• Status Tags: Clear, highly visible tags attach directly to the platform, prominently showing a “Do Not Use” message until a valid inspection has been completed that day.

• Tamper Evident Seals: Secure checklist sheets and tags against unauthorised removal, ensuring inspection integrity.

• Information Posters: Displayed on-site to remind operators and managers of their legal duties and the critical need for pre-use platform inspections every time.

• Storage Wallets & Boxes: Keep all documentation clean, protected, and easily accessible, supporting on-the-spot record checks by safety officers or regulatory inspectors.

Every component is designed to streamline compliance, support safety culture, and eliminate the dangerous guesswork that could put people at risk.

Who Needs Forklift Work Platform Inspections?

The use of forklift-mounted work platforms is strictly for exceptional circumstances, but when such access is required, these inspections are vital across sectors such as:

• Construction and Building Maintenance

• Warehousing and Logistics

• Manufacturing and Engineering

• Utilities and Facilities Management

• Retail, Commercial, and Event Installations

Key users include:

• Forklift Operators & Elevated Workers: Ensuring safe-use platforms before and during the lift.

• Site Supervisors and Managers: Overseeing inspection routines and lifting operations, ensuring compliance.

• Health & Safety Advisors: Auditing inspection records, reviewing lifting plans, and supporting the implementation of best practice.

• Maintenance Teams: Addressing faults and conducting planned servicing in line with inspection findings.

• Business Owners and Directors: Responsible for selecting suitable equipment and maintaining robust inspection regimes.

The Benefits of Rigorous Forklift Work Platform Inspections

Investing in structured platform inspection delivers a range of essential benefits:

• Reduces Accident Risk: Identifies faulty or unsuitable platforms before use, protecting lives.

• Demonstrates Compliance: Evidences adherence to PUWER, LOLER, and WAHR, plus supports insurance and HSE investigations if required.

• Cuts Downtime Costs: Early detection of defects means fewer surprise failures in the field.

• Supports Proper Planning: Ensures lifting operations are properly assessed, with all equipment’s suitability checked.

• Boosts Confidence: All staff can clearly see when a platform is safe or unfit for use, encouraging a safety-first mindset.

How Good to Go Safety Products Add Value

Unrecorded, infrequent, or rushed inspections are still common on British sites, leaving huge gaps in safety. Good to Go Safety solves these problems:

• Status tags attached to platforms make inspection status instantly visible to all site staff.

• Only when a new, dated checklist is inserted does the “Do Not Use” warning disappear and safe status display.

• Duplicate checklists stay with management for auditing—a vital safeguard for compliance, claims, or investigations.

• Posters and seals reinforce daily awareness and protect the integrity of your inspection regime.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How often must forklift work platforms be inspected?
A pre-use inspection must be carried out every time a platform is fitted for lifting people. In addition, thorough examinations are required at least every six months—or as determined by a competent person and your equipment’s examination scheme.

2. Who is permitted to carry out these inspections?
Inspections must be completed by a trained, competent person familiar with the platform type, manufacturer guidance, and the relevant regulatory requirements.

3. What happens if a defect is discovered during inspection?
If any defect or safety-critical issue is found, the platform must be tagged “Do Not Use”, immediately taken out of service, and remediated before further use.

4. What records are required to stay compliant?
A written record of every inspection, defect found, and corrective action taken must be maintained. Good to Go Safety check books generate duplicate sheets for easy management and compliance verification.

5. Why use proper checklists and tags rather than generic forms?
Purpose-designed platform inspection products ensure all risks are considered for each lift, provide audit-ready records, and eliminate ambiguity or missed hazards—protecting both your workforce and your company from liability.

Choose HSE Store for Forklift Work Platform Inspections and safeguard your team, elevate compliance, and build lasting confidence in every lift.