Tow Tractor Inspection Books - 25 Checklists

A fully laden tow tractor and trailer can pull some serious tonnage so pre-use equipment checks of brakes, tyres and loads (amongst others) will help keep staff safe in the workplace.

Industrial trucks account for a large proportion of accidents in warehouses. Many of these accidents are due to operator error associated with inadequate or lack of training. There are however, other reasons for truck accidents, including unsuitable premises, poor layout and design of truck operating areas and poor truck maintenance. Employers using trucks should therefore adopt safe systems of work (eg for training employees, procedures for traffic and pedestrian movement, and for control and maintenance of trucks).

Tow tractors require inspection under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) and our checklist system can help companies to meet those responsibilities.

Good to Go Safety is an innovative inspection checklist for workplace tow tractors. Allows workers to carry out pre-use checks and spot potential faults before they develop into a more serious and costly defect. These safety inspection checklists are designed to help improve safety, reduce maintenance costs and ensure compliance with legal responsibilities. At the beginning of each shift, the operator should check the tow tractor and document the results. They should report to the supervisor any defects which might affect its safe operation to ensure they are put right. Reference: HSE ACOP L117

Each check book contains 25 individual checklists relating to components and mechanical checks to be completed before the tow tug is used. The checklist is suitable for both stand-on tugs and tow tractors with sit-in cabs, it includes checks not only for the vehicle itself but also for the intended route and the trailers/cages they will be towing. Duplicate carbon copies of the completed checklists are retained in the book for management records. The book also includes useful guidance notes to remind operatives what to look for during their inspection.