Elevating Telehandler Safety

Words: Tim Palosaari

Telehandlers are extremely useful machines for handling materials on construction and masonry jobsites. In fact, they’re so important, well-designed, and commonly used that some operators might get overconfident behind the wheel (or joystick).

Safety must always be a priority for telehandler users, whether moving mortar tubs, placing palletized loads at heights, or performing any other material handling task. Proper training is the ultimate safety precaution, but there are critical factors to consider as well.

Full Team Training
Today’s telehandlers typically have simple, intuitive designs that allow even less experienced users to become proficient. Training is still a necessary step, and not just for operators. Service technicians and anyone else who handles the machine should have proper instruction for both using and maintaining it. Dealers and manufacturers can assist with general product training, detailed service training, and operator certification.

After training is completed, diligence on the jobsite is a must. Telehandlers offer the power necessary to provide substantial reach and height while moving loads. However, there is always a chance that a telehandler’s combined center of gravity will shift when it’s not being operated in the proper manner, creating the risk for loads to be displaced or worse.

Smooth Hydraulics
The feeling of being in control of a telehandler when handling heavy masonry materials can be directly linked to how smooth the hydraulic controls are. A high-quality hydraulic circuit will provide an intuitive feel and eliminate jerky movements. Lifting tasks are greatly simplified when using single joystick, pilot-operated controls that cover all boom functions.

A recent design trend is cushioning the cylinder to dampen the end of strokes, both when extending and retracting the boom, to help prevent the potential spilling of a load. Users can also benefit from frame-leveling capability, where a sway cylinder automatically balances the load on the forks as the machine travels.

Landing Loads Safely
There is always some nuance to operating different telehandler brands or machine styles. Long-time users of the popular Lull brand of telehandlers are familiar with the concept of the horizontal sliding boom, a feature now only offered to the market on Pettibone Traverse telehandlers.

Unlike a traditional fixed boom telehandler, the tower portion to which the boom is attached travels forward on a Traverse model. The traversing carriage is mounted to the chassis with a series of slide pads and pulled forward or pushed back with a hydraulic cylinder.

With this capability, an operator can simply place a load on the target landing, release the contact with the forks, and pull the carriage backward to disengage the forks. With a fixed boom, the operator must coordinate several motions of the controls to withdraw the forks from the payload, leading to intermittent contact with the load or the landing.

The real-world impact is that a traditional machine surrenders about three feet of its specified lift height, whereas a traversing machine can land a load at the telehandler’s full lift height.

A traversing telehandler does not need to physically drive back and forth during the landing process. Because the boom itself slides forward and back to place the load, the machine can simply be driven into its desired position and remain stationary. This helps avoid potential hazards, especially on rough terrain sites.

The added precision and reduced load movement make these machines ideal for masonry tasks such as moving mud buckets full of mortar without spilling, or for landing a load of concrete blocks without disturbing the stack.

Proper Machine Size
Using the proper size telehandler is another factor in keeping the jobsite safe. While some users may not be planning to lift extremely heavy loads very often, it’s always important to consult a machine’s lift chart. The operator must ensure there is ample capacity available to safely handle the anticipated loads as the telehandler is boomed farther up and out.

For example, a 9,000-pound-capacity telehandler with 44-foot lift height may be capable of tackling many jobs; however, when working at increased heights or when needing extra reach to operate from a street-side position, a 10,000- or 12,000-pound machine and/or a higher-reaching 56-foot unit may be necessary to accommodate the de-rating of the boom as it fully extends.

Visibility
You can’t talk about telehandler safety without discussing visibility. Be diligent when considering the true level of visibility the machine offers. Some manufacturers will tout visibility from the cab, only for those clear views to be reduced once the telehandler is put into a working condition.

The primary blind spot for a telehandler operator is the area looking back toward the curbside, so the best-designed machines increase visibility toward that particular area. It’s common for telehandlers to have a side-mounted engine, but there is a fine line between that and allowing adequate curbside visibility.

Telehandlers that feature a single lift cylinder, rather than double cylinders, typically have better sight lines to the rear. Another issue is that many machines have an extra set of slave cylinders near the pin where the boom is hinged, which can obstruct the operator’s vision. Machine designs that do not require slave cylinders provide a more open rear view.

Back-up cameras and object detection sensors have become popular accessories. Still, it’s very important to see firsthand – with clear sightlines all around the machine – when maneuvering on a masonry construction site.

Maintenance
Proper service is also important for telehandler safety. Routine checks should be done daily. Perform regular maintenance and simple visual inspections between jobs. Ensure it’s always safe to use by keeping it in good working order.
Telematics has emerged as a key technology for telehandlers. Equipment owners can constantly monitor service-related items with a computer or smartphone app.

Always Think Safety
Safely elevating heavy loads to the desired height and distance requires an observant operator and a telehandler in proper operating condition. Learn and understand the manufacturer’s safe operating guidelines to ensure efficiency and safety at all times.

For more information, visit www.gopettibone.com.

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