It is crucial that all companies have appropriate health and safety procedures in place and have a regular schedule for checking equipment to minimise the risks of accidents. There should be two elements to the regular inspection of a hand pallet truck or any other manual handling equipment.

The first element is the vehicle inspection itself. Examining the forks will ensure they are in good enough working order to hold the heavy loads that are demanded of them. All hand guards and handles should be examined closely to ensure they are not faulty; many pallet trucks have brakes and other controls attached to the handles, and checking these is also paramount.

If the truck is battery-powered, as is the case with some semi-electric stacker trucks, all battery cables and connectors should be monitored; the status of the battery and the last time it was fully charged should be written down on an easily accessible record. The person inspecting the truck should look for any loose parts and examine the overall appearance of the equipment before passing it as acceptable for use.

The second part of the examination process is the operation of the truck. With a light load, test the lifting and lower controls. They should be smooth and easy to operate. If the truck has directional tools or a steering mechanism, it should be taken for a short test run in the workplace to ensure that the operator will have maximum control over the truck. Any other buttons and switches should also be checked and re-checked.

A regular check should flag any faults before they become dangerous enough to cause injury. A wobbly wheel, damaged form or brakes which aren’t in top form can easily be spotted during the recommended inspection, so it is crucial that managers ensure these examination periods are carried out before trucks are put into use.