JCB LiftAgricultural Engineering Inspections 

Farmers told us how difficult they found it to get qualified and reliable engineering inspections (under PUWER & LOLER regulations) carried out on their agricultural equipment - hence the development of Farmers & Mercantile Engineering Inspections.

Skilled and Experienced Inspectors

In the past many farmers have found engineering inspections to be largely a waste of time as they have been carried out by persons with no direct experience of operating or maintaining the machines involved and have often involved little more than a cursory glance around the machine and a kicking of the tyres. That is not the case with the engineering inspectors used by Farmers & Mercantile. They all come from farming backgrounds and have experience of selling, driving and maintaining the machines involved. Their sound practical advice will prove worthwhile.

Keith Short - Engineering InspectionsOur team of highly skilled and competent agricultural inspection engineers have all undergone extensive training and all are certified by Lloyds British. Our engineering inspection division is run by Keith Short, a farmer’s son with over 20 years’ experience in the farm machinery trade. Keith also has a team of agricultural engineers that assist him with the various inspections.

Our aim is to:

  1. conduct a thorough examination of your lifting equipment to comply with PUWER and LOLER standards as required by the Health and Safety Executive, thereby reducing potential accidents
  2. provide an independent report detailing the general condition and wear and tear of your equipment
  3. advise where preventative maintenance could be carried out with a view to reducing costly repairs and extending the life of your machinery & maximising trade in values

Why invest in Engineering Inspections?

The case study (Safe Load Indicator Failure) is a real life situation outlining a tragic, yet avoidable, accident. If only an inspection had been performed on the telehandler, it would have highlighted;

  1. the safe load indicator was not functioning
  2. the load chart in the cab was unreadable
  3. the extension markers on the boom were missing

As it was, the lethal combination of unchecked equipment cost all involved very dearly.

The result is an innocent lorry driver has been left permanently disabled and the farmer incurred a £20,000 fine plus £1,891 court costs.

If a vehicle requiring an inspection certificate is involved in an accident or causes injury, courts WILL take into account the fact that the machine held a valid certificate. It could prove to be the difference between having a criminal record and a fine or not!

Pricing Structure for Inspections

£100 - First large machine (i.e. Telehandler, Tractor/loader, compressor, etc)
£  50 - Second large machine (if tested on same visit)
£  25 - Small item (Bottle jack, trolley jack, lifting chain & straps, hand operated chain hoist, etc)
£120 - Minimum call out charge if only one machine to be inspected

 

What is PUWER?

Provision and use of work equipment regulations 1998

PUWER applies to all work equipment including lifting equipment and requires that you select;

1. Suitable equipment in terms of its construction and design
2. A practical area where it is to be used
3. The correct purpose for its use

 

What is LOLER?

Lifting operations and lifting equipment regulations 1998

In agriculture LOLER applies to a wide range of lifting equipment including tractor fore end loaders, fork-lift trucks, telescopic handlers, cranes on machines (e.g. on lorries or fertiliser spreaders), workshop hoists, backhoe loaders, loading shovels, skid steer loaders, all lifting attachments and accessories for any of the mentioned machinery, hydraulic jacks and more.

       

PUWER & LOLER standards

Boom inspectionThe Boom - we inspect for cracks in both outer & inner booms, wear in the boom wear pads, check the carriage for wear, cracks and distortion.

 

 

Hydraulic InspectionHydraulic - A thorough inspection of the boom is carried out to include all hydraulic hoses, and steel pipework, hydraulic rams and pins and bushes.

 

Cab InspectionsThe cab - controls, safety frame, gauges, rating plate, seat, mirrors and lights are all checked, much like a vehicle MOT

 

Safe Load Indicator Check

 

The Safe Load Indicator (S.L.I.) - one of the most important items to be checked. It is essential that the operator is aware if the machine is overloaded.

 

We check wheel rims & centres, wheel nuts & tyres for damage/fractures. We check steering, inside walls of tyres & axle mounts. We check the pick-up hitch and chassis for distortion, cracks and damaged welds.