Who may carry out the periodic inspection? The inspector explained
Short answer: who may carry out the periodic inspection?
The question 'Who may carry out the periodic inspection?' has a clear answer in the regulations - and considerable consequences in practice if it is answered wrongly. An inspection by an unqualified person is legally worthless: the inspection report is deemed not to have been issued and the work equipment is deemed uninspected.
In Belgium, periodic inspection of lifting equipment and aerial work platforms is carried out by an external technical inspection body (EDTC/SECT), under the Code on Well-being at Work, Book IV (work equipment). In addition, the employer has daily checks and maintenance of its work equipment carried out by competent staff.
The inspector under Belgian well-being at work rules
Anyone who checks work equipment must be competent to do so. In practice, three criteria must all be met:
Relevant vocational training
The training must enable an understanding of the machine to be checked. For forklifts, this could be a mechatronics technician or motor vehicle technician; for aerial work platforms, a mechatronics technician or agricultural and construction machinery mechanic; for cranes, an engineer or technician specialising in crane inspections.
Professional experience with the equipment to be checked
The experience must relate to the specific machine type. Someone with experience only of passenger cars is not a suitable expert for forklifts - even if they have the same vocational training.
Recent professional practice
Activity in the relevant field must be recent - past training without current practice is not enough. What counts is current hands-on experience with the type of work equipment.
In-house expert, technical specialist, EDTC: the distinction
These three terms are often confused in practice - yet they have different meanings and requirements:
| Term | Requirement | Used for | Typical players |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-house expert | training + professional experience + recent practice | daily checks and maintenance of most work equipment (forklifts, aerial work platforms, construction machinery) | in-house safety technicians, external technicians with specialist knowledge |
| Technical specialist | expert with crane-specific knowledge | maintenance and technical checks of cranes | specialist fitters, crane specialists |
| External technical inspection body (EDTC/SECT) | recognition as an EDTC | periodic inspection of lifting equipment, cranes and aerial work platforms | accredited inspection bodies |
The terms build on one another: an EDTC inspector is also technically competent, but not every in-house expert may carry out the periodic inspection.
Who may inspect which machine?
Forklifts / industrial trucks
Inspector: periodic inspection by an external technical inspection body (EDTC/SECT); daily checks by an in-house expert with forklift experience. Details: Periodic inspection of forklifts →
Construction machinery
Inspector: an expert with knowledge of the machine class concerned; for machines that lift loads, periodic inspection by an EDTC. Details: Periodic inspection of construction machinery →
Cranes
Periodic inspection: by an external technical inspection body (EDTC/SECT). Maintenance and technical checks: by a technical specialist with crane-specific knowledge. Details: Periodic inspection of cranes →
Aerial work platforms
Inspector: periodic inspection by an external technical inspection body (EDTC/SECT), in line with applicable Belgian safety rules and NBN EN standards. Details: Periodic inspection of aerial work platforms →
In-house or external checks: decision guide
Checks and maintenance can be carried out in-house (within your own company) or externally (by a specialist organisation); the periodic inspection itself is carried out by an EDTC. Criteria to weigh up:
In-house checks make sense if:
- Large own machine fleet and appropriate qualification available
- Inspection staff regularly trained and recently active
- Documentation processes established
External checks make sense if:
- Small or mixed machine fleet
- No qualified persons in-house
- Qualifying own staff not economically viable
- Inspection by an EDTC required (lifting equipment, cranes, aerial work platforms)
For rental machines from Luibl Rental, this decision does not arise: as the rental company, Luibl Rental organises the inspection and supplies all work equipment with a valid inspection report.
How do you become an expert?
Qualification is obtained through external, recognised providers - Luibl Rental does not offer training or qualification programmes. Possible routes:
- In-house or external seminars by recognised training institutions
- Courses offered by accredited inspection bodies
- Manufacturer-specific qualification programmes for certain machine classes
Rent machines with a valid inspection report → | Send an enquiry →
Frequently asked questions
Who may carry out a periodic inspection?
In Belgium, an external technical inspection body (EDTC/SECT), under the Code on Well-being at Work, Book IV. For daily checks, the employer uses competent staff with relevant training, professional experience with the equipment and recent practice.
What is a competent expert?
An expert is someone with relevant vocational training, proven experience and recent activity with the work equipment to be checked. For periodic inspection of lifting equipment and aerial work platforms, a recognised external technical inspection body (EDTC/SECT) is also required.
May the managing director carry out the inspection personally?
The daily checks, yes - if they have the necessary training, professional experience with the specific machine type and recent practice. Periodic inspection of lifting equipment and aerial work platforms is carried out by an EDTC; an inspection by an unrecognised person is legally worthless.
When must an EDTC carry out the inspection?
For lifting equipment, cranes and aerial work platforms, the Code on Well-being at Work, Book IV provides for periodic inspection by an external technical inspection body (EDTC/SECT). Which machine requires which inspection is determined by applicable Belgian safety rules.
Where can you qualify as an expert?
Through external, recognised training providers, inspection bodies or manufacturer-specific programmes. Luibl Rental does not offer training or qualifications.