In the current economic climate,
many companies are not investing in
new equipment, but relying on
existing machinery. According to
Thorworld Industries, this makes it
very important that users of loading
bay equipment commit to a rigorous
maintenance programme to ensure
equipment is safe and effective.

Thorworld identifies two
elements: the inspection by a
competent person, which is a legal
requirement; and preventative
maintenance, which takes a
proactive approach to
anticipating future problems and
fixing them before they affect
operational efficiency.

John Meale, MD, says: “We’ve
seen recently that companies are
going to local inspectors, who are
untrained in the specification of
certain types of loading bay
equipment. As a result, they are
inspecting and certifying yardramps
and dock levellers, for example,
under the wrong regulations, and
missing crucial safety features.”
Meale believes it is essential that
user of loading bay equipment seek
out competent people who understand
the PUWER and LOLER regulations
and their often subtle differences.