VGP · the basics
What is a VGP? The periodic thorough inspection explained simply
The VGP (vérification générale périodique) is a mandatory safety inspection, at a fixed interval, of certain work equipment: lifting appliances such as aerial work platforms, forklift trucks or cranes, and certain machines such as earthmoving equipment. It serves to detect wear or dangerous defects in time. A competent person, in-house or external, carries it out and writes a report.
The acronym comes up on every site and on every aerial work platform sticker. Here is what it really covers, who can carry out the inspection, what you are given at the end, and how a VGP differs from other checks.
What VGP means
VGP stands for "vérification générale périodique" (periodic thorough inspection). The principle is set out in article R4323-23 of the French Labour Code (Code du travail): for certain equipment, the employer must have the condition of the equipment checked regularly "so that any deterioration likely to create a hazard is detected in time".
The list of equipment and the frequency of inspections are set by ministerial orders. The two main ones for an equipment fleet are the order of 1 March 2004, for lifting appliances and accessories, and the order of 5 March 1993, for certain machines including ride-on earthmoving equipment (excavators, loaders, dozers...).
A "VGP for an aerial work platform" is therefore simply the periodic inspection of a MEWP (mobile elevating work platform). For this type of appliance, it takes place every 6 months.
Who can carry out a VGP?
The French Labour Code (article R4323-24) entrusts VGP inspections to "competent persons, whether or not belonging to the establishment". It can therefore be an employee of the company or an external body. In both cases, the person must be competent on the equipment's risks and know the regulations. The list of persons who carry out inspections is kept available to the labour inspectorate.
According to the INRS, it is up to the employer to assess the competence of the chosen person or body. Using a body accredited by Cofrac (the French accreditation committee) is one way to justify this confidence, but it is not mandatory for an ordinary VGP. Accreditation becomes mandatory in specific cases, for example when the labour inspectorate itself requests an inspection.
What is checked during a VGP
For a lifting appliance, the VGP includes an inspection of its state of preservation and functional tests (order of 1 March 2004, articles 6, 9 and 22). The inspector notably looks at:
- the chocking and braking devices that immobilise the appliance at rest;
- the brakes that stop and hold the load or the appliance;
- the devices that control the lowering of loads;
- travel, luffing or slewing limiters;
- load and overturning moment limiters, where fitted;
- hooks, cables and load chains.
The report, the safety register and the maintenance logbook
For lifting equipment, a provisional report is issued at the end of the inspection and the final report must arrive within four weeks (order of 1 March 2004, article 3). The result is then entered without delay in the safety register (article R4323-25). If the inspector is external, their report is appended to the register. The register and reports can be kept on any medium, paper or digital (article R4323-27).
Lifting appliances also have a maintenance logbook, kept up to date by the employer (article R4323-19 and order of 2 March 2004). It records servicing and repairs. The inspector may ask for it during the VGP, along with the manufacturer's manual and previous reports.
Two points to remember. First, the employer must act on every observation in the report: depending on severity, the machine either stays in service or must be stopped. Second, the sticker fixed to the machine only shows the date of the last inspection, not its sound condition: the report is what counts.
VGP, commissioning, recommissioning, maintenance: the differences
These checks are often confused. They do not substitute for one another, except in one case: for the same configuration of use, a recommissioning report can stand in for a VGP (INRS, ED 6339).
| Inspection | When | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Commissioning | First use in the company, new or secondhand machine | Check it is suited to the planned work, properly installed and safe to use |
| VGP | At a fixed interval: 3, 6 or 12 months depending on the appliance | Detect wear and dangerous defects in time |
| Recommissioning | After dismantling and reassembly, major repair of an essential component, configuration change, accident, or certain site changes | Ensure no dangerous defect has been introduced |
| Pre-use check | At every shift start | Quick check by the user before starting work |
| Maintenance (servicing) | As per the manufacturer's manual | Keep the machine in good working order; does not replace the VGP |
What if the equipment is hired?
Even for hired equipment, the company using it remains responsible for inspections being properly carried out. Before use, it checks with the rental company that the commissioning inspection and VGP inspections have been carried out. Copies of the first commissioning report, the last periodic report and the VGP history must be kept on or near the appliance, together with the manual (order of 1 March 2004, article 15).
Trackary does not carry out VGP inspections, but it keeps the date of the last inspection, the report and the next deadline for every machine, with an alert before it falls due. Request a demo →