Telehandlers
THE SAFE USE OF TELEHANDLERS IN CONSTRUCTION
The Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group have published new guidance intended to help industry reduce the risk of accident and injury when working telehandlers.
The new document – Safe Use of Telehandlers in Construction - was launched at the Executive Hire Show at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, on the 10th February. Published by CPA on behalf of the Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group, the guidance will then become available for free download from this page.
Telehandlers are one of the most versatile pieces of material handling equipment on a construction site, making a valuable contribution to the efficiency of the construction process. Over the past few years telehandlers have developed in both capacity and reach to the stage where they are able to carry out many of the tasks traditionally undertaken out by mobile and tower cranes. Unfortunately the very versatility that makes them so useful also provides scope for unsafe use which has led to a significant number of serious telehandler accidents, tragically including some fatalities
In the Foreword to the Best Practice Guidance, Philip White, Chief Inspector of Construction at HSE, said “Not only do these accidents have a terrible cost in terms of human suffering, they also have a significant financial cost for all concerned. Consequently there is a very strong business case for improving safety performance. This new guidance is straightforward, comprehensive and easy to adopt. I commend the guidance to anyone who owns, supplies or controls the operation of telehandlers. Please read the publication and turn the advice into action.”
The new guidance was written by a Working Group which was formed in February 2010. Over 40 people contributed to the work, representing over 30 companies and trade bodies. HSE are members of the Working Group, and the Best Practice Guidance was prepared in conjunction with them.
