We get calls into Grizzly Inspections all the time asking if they need to get a structural inspection done on their forklift every year. Well lets take a look at what the Alberta OHS code says regarding forklifts.
Forklifts are piece because they aren’t specifically talked about in the Alberta OHS code regarding inspections. However, the code does have one spot where it talks about mobile equipment in general. This is the portion of the code that OHS officers will use with Forklifts:
“Inspection and maintenance
260(1) An employer must ensure that powered mobile equipment is inspected by a competent worker for defects and conditions that are hazardous or may create a hazard.
260(2) An inspection under subsection (1) must be made in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.”
This wording doesn’t specifically say anything about requiring an NDT inspection, but it does expect the employer to perform inspections on the forklift by following the Manufacturer’s recommendations. That would usually look like a daily inspection, and having the forklift serviced every 500 hours.
The other thing we can look at is the ANSI B56.1 standard. It is a standard for Forklifts that is referenced in Alberta OHS but only for Order Picker types of forklifts. But other provinces, such as BC, reference B56.1 for all types of forklifts. Here is what B56.1 says for inspections:
Structural Inspections
A fork inspection shall be carried out every year, by trained personnel, with the aim of detecting any damage, failure, deformation, etc., that might impair safe use. It goes on further to say to visually inspect forks for cracks and if you suspect damage to have it non-destructive tested (this is a service we can provide).
Conclusion
With good paperwork (daily inspection logs, operators manuals, etc) you should never have a problem with OHS regarding inspections. Howerver, we do recommend you take the extra step and follow what other provinces require, which means a trained person should inspect the forks for damage, and if there are concerns to have someone like us come out to NDT the forks. And of course if the forklift is involved in an incident or if you perform any repairs or modifications to the structure you will need to get an NDT inspection on your forklift anyway.