The Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) standard updated. Operators given until 1st July 2022 to comply.

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Press Release

Published: November 10, 2021

The scheme, which sets out the requirements fleet operators must meet if they wish to become and maintain FORS accreditation, is updated every two years. The latest version (version 6) had been due to be issued in 2020, but its publication was postponed by one year to minimise disruption during the peak of the pandemic. It will come into force on 1st July 2022 July.

Since being introduced in 2008 by Transport for London (TfL), the scheme has grown in popularity and now extends to all parts of the UK with a significant and fast-growing number of customers, particularly in the construction sector – demanding compliance to the standard for operators to carry out work on their behalf.

The latest FORS standard includes several revisions to the existing version (5.1), in areas such as documentation, regulatory licensing, daily walkaround checks, vehicle safety equipment, working time and drivers’ hours and routing. A summary of the changes can be found from page 96 within the newly published standard. The scheme will continue to audit and award operators with bronze, silver and gold accreditations.

As well as focussing on the vehicle fleet, FORS continues to pay close attention to ensuring drivers maintain a level of skill and ability to exercise proper control of a vehicle and to be able to interact safely with others.

This requires operators to be able to demonstrate robust policies and procedures around driver health and wellbeing including fatigue, mental health and eyesight, and to prevent driver impairment through drugs and alcohol which was also sighted in a recent update to  guidance on work-related road risk (WRRR) for employers and workers, published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Robert Candy, Chief Executive of the Scaffolding Association, commented “This updated standard will add extra burden and cost to construction businesses at a very difficult and challenging time for the industry, however they must act to ensure their fleet operations comply by July 2022”.

He added “I am however pleased, that unlike many other standards and accreditations, that FORS have not overlooked workforce health and wellbeing, an approach that has always been vitally important but only in recent times has become more widely embraced across business and industry”.

Notes for editors

The Scaffolding Association is the UK’s largest dedicated trade association representing the Scaffolding and Access industry.

The construction sector employs 2.7millon people, contributes over £100bn to the UK economy which is 7% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Press Contact: Chris Seaton – [email protected] or 07979 531464