With a range of attachments and uses, telescopic handlers, or telehandlers, are deployed in a variety of areas (e.g. on building sites, farms and manufacturing sites or as traction engines).
Telehandlers come with telescopic arms and rotatable cabins. With the use of attachable parts, they can be used to transport heavy loads. They can also feature aerial platforms.
But with such wide variety of applications comes a wide range of risks and potential accidents.
It is therefore essential for the safe operation of this multifunctional equipment that the operator has specialist training. The purpose of this manual is to highlight the risks involved so that the operator can be aware of them in advance, before climbing aboard.
The brochure also serves as a study aid to help operators pass the necessary theory and practical exams. It contains 15 practice questions and meets the criteria set by the German training standard DGUV G 308-009 (training and commissioning of all-terrain telescopic handler operators).
Intended use
- General
- Working conditions
• Temperature
• Operation in enclosed spaces
• Operation on pontoons
• Operation on vessels
• Application as a tractor
- Loading and unloading vehicles
Physical principles
- Inertial force
- Centrifugal force
- Frictional force-
- Lever principle
- Centre of gravity
- Structural stability – tilting edges
Technical equipment/safety equipment
- Side shift
- Sideshifter
- Level compensation
- Load moment limiter
- Dynamic load control
- Automatic weighing systems
- Automatic parking brake
- Load backrest
- Warning signals
- Headlights
- Restraining devices
Load transport
- Ground-level transport
- Centred load lifting
- Driving on ascending and inclined planes
- Visibility conditions
• General remarks
• Driver assistance systems
• Instructors
- Public transport areas
Working with supports
- Operating the machine with supports
- Safety systems
Floor loading
Working near slopes, excavation pits, ditches, floor openings, uneven areas; demolition work
Accessory equipment
Operation with fork tines
- Load lifting
- Lifting elevated and far-off loads
- Moving loads with fork tines
Using work platforms
- Securing the danger area
- Operating instructions
- Working on the platform
- Using fall-protection PPE
Operation in areas of public transport
- Definition
- Driving licence
- Operating licence, approval, certificate of exemption, insurance
- Operation in public road traffic
Risk of electric shock – Working near electrical wires
