Vehicle Safety and Equipment Inspections

Introduction

The safety and equipment inspections have been introduced to meet several objectives:

·          Help all participants in a trip by ensuring that other members have understood the basic safety requirements of the club and prepared themselves and their vehicles in advance.

·          An Inspection Sticker to indicate vehicle has passed an inspection, to save time on vehicle inspections at the start of trips.

·          Assist Trip Leaders, who may not all feel qualified to undertake inspections.

All vehicles are required to satisfy the requirements set out in this document (or subsequent versions) as from 1^st September 2001 in order to qualify for all club trips or driving events.

Process

1.        Annual inspection.

2.        Inspection Sticker to signify vehicle passed inspection satisfactorily.

3.        Inspection Sticker specifications:
– Month indicator on sticker shows month inspection passed.
– Constant artwork, ie no change each year.
– Colour of sticker to show which year.
– Sticker remains the property of the club.

4.        Inspection cycle tied to Annual Sub cycle of June–August, ie vehicles must be inspected by 31^st August each year to qualify for trips and events from 1^st September that year.

5.        Inspector can issue Inspection Sticker up to three months in advance (ie March–May). This provides a six-month window (March–August) for inspections.

6.        Subs processed with no link to safety inspection; ie can renew sub with or without inspection.

7.        Inspections to be carried out only by Inspectors appointed by the Committee.

8.        Criteria to qualify as an Inspector: Club will nominate a list of inspectors. Normally these will be selected from club members who are experienced mechanics or engineers.

9.        Inspectors are volunteers providing a personal service at no charge; inspections are not a commercial service provided by any business.

10.    Inspections to be booked in advance with Inspectors and undertaken at time and location to suit the convenience of the Inspector.

11.    Inspections might be arranged to take place at the start of some trips, or as a day activity, if Inspectors are prepared to volunteer their time on occasions.

12.    Current year Inspection Sticker required to allow vehicle on trip (from 1^st September each year), except visitors, at discretion of Trip Leader.

13.    Visitors’ vehicles to be inspected by Trip Leader (or delegate). This inspection is an interim inspection for the purpose of that trip or event and does not qualify the vehicle for an Inspection Sticker.

14.    Vehicle details including registration number to be recorded in club database.

15.    Safety checks to be noted in club database:
– Inspector to advise details to Guardian of club database using the form provided by the club.

16.    Safety Officers are entitled to remove Inspection Sticker if vehicle deemed unsafe:
– could be after notification by a Trip Leader.

Safety and Equipment Check Items

1.        Tow Hooks, front and rear:
– Rated to 10,000 lb minimum.

2.        Mounting of Tow Hooks:
– Bolted, not welded.
– High tensile bolts, grade 5 or better, 12 mm or better.
– Mounted to chassis.

3.        Recovery Strop:
– Stretchy strop required.
– Rated at 5,000 kg.
– Must be in safe condition.
– Round rope or flat strap accepted, if within above specs.

4.        Winch Cable:
– Safe condition, including no knots or fraying.
– Eye or hook properly fastened to cable.
– Hook rated.

5.        Winch Construction and Mounting:
– High tensile bolts.
– Safe and secure.

6.        Tyres:
– Not part of safety check as covered by requirements for each individual trip.

7.        Tubes:
– Inspector should offer advice on fitment of tubes.
– Not part of safety check.

8.        Spare Wheel:
– Compatible for vehicle.
– Alternatively equipment and expertise to repair puncture.

9.        Basic Tool Kit:
– Shiny vehicles:  Minimum of standard tools that would be provided by vehicle manufacturer.
– Other vehicles:  At least above, plus additional as suitable, common sense applies.
– All vehicles:  Wheel changing equipment, including suitable jack, wheel brace.

10.    Shovel/Spade.

11.    Roll Bar/Cage:
– Adequate bracing.
– Securely mounted.

12.    Fire Extinguisher:
– Minimum 1.4kg Dry Powder or 0.9kg BCF.

13.    First Aid Kit.

14.    Items secured safely.

Conditions

1.        Club or Inspector does not warrant that vehicle or fittings are safe, whether inspection passed or not.

2.        Owner or driver responsible to ensure vehicle maintained to WOF standard at all times.

3.        Safety check items are firm guidelines; Inspector can use discretion in certain circumstances.

4.        Disputes to be referred to Club Captains, who will confer with Inspectors or Committee as appropriate.