What does HSE ACOP L117 require for forklift inspections?

ACOP L117, "Rider-Operated Lift Trucks: Operator Training and Safe Use," provides practical guidance on complying with PUWER and LOLER for forklift trucks. It recommends daily pre-use checks by trained operators covering brakes, steering, controls, forks, mast, tyres, lights and safety devices. Under LOLER, forklift trucks must also receive a thorough examination by a competent person at defined intervals (at least every 12 months, or every 6 months if used for lifting persons). The daily check supplements the formal LOLER examination by catching defects between inspections.

Who can perform a forklift daily check under HSE guidance?

The daily pre-use check should be performed by a trained and authorised forklift operator. Under ACOP L117, operators must have completed recognised training (typically to an accredited standard such as RTITB, ITSSAR or AITT) and be authorised by their employer to operate the specific type of truck. The operator should know what to check, how to identify defects, and when to remove a truck from service. The periodic LOLER thorough examination must be carried out by a competent person, typically an independent engineer or accredited inspection body.

How often do forklift trucks need a LOLER thorough examination?

Under LOLER, forklift trucks require a thorough examination by a competent person at least every 12 months. If the forklift is used for lifting persons (for example, with a personnel work platform attachment), the interval reduces to every 6 months. The employer may set shorter intervals based on the manufacturer recommendations, operating conditions or risk assessment. A daily operator pre-use check is expected in addition to the periodic thorough examination.

What is the difference between an HSE forklift checklist and an OSHA forklift checklist?

An HSE forklift checklist is structured around UK regulations, specifically ACOP L117, PUWER and LOLER. It includes items such as the LOLER thorough examination status and operator training certification to accredited UK standards (RTITB, ITSSAR, AITT). An OSHA forklift checklist follows US federal regulations, specifically 29 CFR 1910.178, and references OSHA-specific training and evaluation requirements. Both cover similar physical inspection items (forks, mast, brakes, steering, lights, safety devices), but the regulatory references, training standards and examination schedules differ.

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Free HSE forklift inspection checklist (PDF-ready). Covers ACOP L117 daily and periodic checks for rider-operated lift trucks. Download free.

Last updated: 2026-04-27

Jarrod Milford

Commercial Director

Updated 27 April 2026

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What is a hse forklift inspection checklist?

An HSE forklift inspection checklist is a structured form used to document the daily and periodic inspections of rider-operated lift trucks (forklifts) in line with the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) L117, "Rider-Operated Lift Trucks: Operator Training and Safe Use." ACOP L117 sets out the practical steps employers must take to comply with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) and the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) as they apply to forklift trucks. The checklist covers the items operators and supervisors should verify before each shift and during periodic thorough examinations, including mast and forks, hydraulic systems, tyres and wheels, brakes and steering, lights and warning devices, seatbelt or operator restraint, overhead guard, load backrest, fluid levels, battery condition, and general truck cleanliness and housekeeping. Under LOLER, forklift trucks used for lifting operations must receive a thorough examination by a competent person at least every 12 months (or every 6 months if used for lifting persons). The daily operator check supplements these periodic examinations by catching defects between formal inspections. In MapTrack, this checklist can be assigned to each forklift asset and completed on mobile, with automatic alerts for overdue daily checks and LOLER thorough examination dates.

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Benefits of using this hse forklift inspection checklist

UK regulatory compliance: meet ACOP L117, PUWER and LOLER requirements with documented daily and periodic inspection records.
Operator safety: systematic checks of brakes, steering, mast, forks and operator restraint catch defects before they cause tip-overs, struck-by incidents or load drops.
Thorough examination tracking: the checklist links to the LOLER thorough examination schedule, ensuring forklift trucks do not exceed the statutory examination interval.
Defect management: recording faults on a standardised form triggers corrective action workflows, preventing unsafe trucks from remaining in service.
Fleet consistency: every operator follows the same inspection sequence regardless of shift, site or forklift model.
Audit readiness: completed checklists provide date-stamped, signed records that satisfy HSE inspector requests and internal audit programmes.

Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack

When you digitise forklift checklists in MapTrack, you get:

Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
Automatically get alerts when faults are identified.
Link every form digitally as a PDF to the relevant asset, location or person.
Receive a digital PDF copy with every submission to your email.
Ability to share forms digitally.
Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
Electronic signatures.
Edit forms later without reprinting.
Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).
Escalate critical hazards instantly to safety managers via push notification.
Maintain an auditable safety register that satisfies WHS regulator requests.
Correlate incident trends across sites with built-in safety analytics.

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What to include in a hse forklift inspection checklist

This hse forklift inspection checklist covers 12 key areas:

Truck details: make, model, serial number, fleet or unit number, fuel type (electric, LPG, diesel).
Operator details: name, training certificate number, date and shift.
Mast and forks: fork condition (no cracks, no distortion, heel thickness within limits), fork locks, mast rails, chains, rollers and hydraulic cylinders.
Hydraulic system: hydraulic oil level, hoses, fittings, tilt and lift cylinder operation, leak check.
Tyres and wheels: tyre condition, tread, inflation, wheel nuts, wheel integrity.
Brakes and steering: service brake, parking brake, steering play, steering cylinder.
Safety devices: horn, headlights, rear lights, flashing beacon, seatbelt or operator restraint, overhead guard, load backrest.
Fluids and power: engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid, battery condition (electrolyte, terminals, charger) or LPG tank.
Operational test: lift, lower, tilt, side shift (if fitted), forward, reverse and brake test under no-load conditions.
LOLER status: date of last thorough examination, next due date, current examination report available.
Defect register: item, description, severity (safe to operate, requires monitoring, must not operate), action taken.
Sign-off: operator and supervisor signatures.

How to use this hse forklift inspection checklist

Record the truck details, operator name, training certificate number, date and shift.: Enter the forklift make, model, serial number, fleet or unit number and fuel type. Record the operator name, their accredited training certificate number (RTITB, ITSSAR or AITT), the date and which shift the inspection covers so the record is traceable to a specific machine, person and time.
Conduct a walk-around inspection with the truck switched off. Check forks, mast, tyres, hydraulic hoses, fluid levels, battery or LPG tank and the overhead guard.: Inspect both forks for cracks, distortion and heel wear. Check mast rails, chains, rollers and hydraulic cylinders for damage or leaks. Examine tyres for cuts, chunking, flat spots and correct inflation. Verify hydraulic oil, engine oil, coolant and transmission fluid levels. For electric trucks check the battery electrolyte and terminals; for LPG trucks confirm the gas cylinder is secure and connections are tight.
Start the truck and test all controls: lift, lower, tilt, steering, horn, lights, beacon, seatbelt and brakes.: With the truck running, raise and lower the mast to full extent and tilt forward and back to check smooth hydraulic operation. Turn the steering lock-to-lock to confirm no excessive play. Sound the horn, test headlights, rear lights and the flashing beacon. Fasten and release the seatbelt or operator restraint. Apply the service brake and parking brake to confirm both hold the truck on a level surface.
Confirm the LOLER thorough examination is current. Check the examination report date and next due date. Do not operate if the examination has lapsed.: Locate the current LOLER thorough examination certificate for the truck and verify the examination date and next due date. Under LOLER, the examination must be repeated at least every 12 months, or every 6 months if the truck is used for lifting persons. If the examination has lapsed, remove the truck from service immediately and notify the fleet manager.
Record any defects in the defect register. If the defect makes the truck unsafe, remove it from service and report to the supervisor immediately.: For each defect, record the item, a description of the fault and a severity rating: safe to operate with monitoring, requires repair within a set timeframe, or must not operate until rectified. Attach photographs where possible. If a safety-critical defect is found, isolate the truck with a "DO NOT USE" tag, inform the supervisor and raise a corrective action in MapTrack.
Sign and date the checklist. The supervisor reviews and countersigns. File the completed form or save digitally in MapTrack.: The operator signs to confirm the inspection was completed honestly and thoroughly. The supervisor reviews the entries, countersigns the checklist and confirms any defect actions have been raised. File the paper form or submit digitally in MapTrack so the inspection record is linked to the asset and available for HSE inspector requests or internal audits.

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How often should you complete this checklist?

The daily operator pre-use check should be completed before the forklift is used each shift. If the truck is used across multiple shifts, each operator should perform a check at the start of their shift. Under LOLER, a thorough examination by a competent person is required at least every 12 months for standard forklift operations, or every 6 months if the truck is used for lifting persons (e.g. with a work platform attachment). Many employers also schedule weekly or monthly intermediate inspections covering deeper maintenance items. In MapTrack, you can schedule daily, weekly, monthly and LOLER examination intervals per asset and receive overdue alerts automatically.

Frequently asked questions

What does HSE ACOP L117 require for forklift inspections?: ACOP L117, "Rider-Operated Lift Trucks: Operator Training and Safe Use," provides practical guidance on complying with PUWER and LOLER for forklift trucks. It recommends daily pre-use checks by trained operators covering brakes, steering, controls, forks, mast, tyres, lights and safety devices. Under LOLER, forklift trucks must also receive a thorough examination by a competent person at defined intervals (at least every 12 months, or every 6 months if used for lifting persons). The daily check supplements the formal LOLER examination by catching defects between inspections.
Who can perform a forklift daily check under HSE guidance?: The daily pre-use check should be performed by a trained and authorised forklift operator. Under ACOP L117, operators must have completed recognised training (typically to an accredited standard such as RTITB, ITSSAR or AITT) and be authorised by their employer to operate the specific type of truck. The operator should know what to check, how to identify defects, and when to remove a truck from service. The periodic LOLER thorough examination must be carried out by a competent person, typically an independent engineer or accredited inspection body.
How often do forklift trucks need a LOLER thorough examination?: Under LOLER, forklift trucks require a thorough examination by a competent person at least every 12 months. If the forklift is used for lifting persons (for example, with a personnel work platform attachment), the interval reduces to every 6 months. The employer may set shorter intervals based on the manufacturer recommendations, operating conditions or risk assessment. A daily operator pre-use check is expected in addition to the periodic thorough examination.
What is the difference between an HSE forklift checklist and an OSHA forklift checklist?: An HSE forklift checklist is structured around UK regulations, specifically ACOP L117, PUWER and LOLER. It includes items such as the LOLER thorough examination status and operator training certification to accredited UK standards (RTITB, ITSSAR, AITT). An OSHA forklift checklist follows US federal regulations, specifically 29 CFR 1910.178, and references OSHA-specific training and evaluation requirements. Both cover similar physical inspection items (forks, mast, brakes, steering, lights, safety devices), but the regulatory references, training standards and examination schedules differ.

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