New guidance on the safe use of telescopic material handlers has been published by the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) on behalf of the Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group.
 
Over the past 20 years or more, telehandlers have developed in both capacity and reach to the stage where they now carry out many of the tasks previously undertaken by mobile and tower cranes. However, the versatility that makes them so useful also provides scope for unsafe usewhich has led to a significant number of serious telehandler accidents, including some fatalities.

In the foreword to the Best Practice Guidance, Phillip White, chief inspector of construction at the Health & Safety Executive 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 working group that wrote the guide comprised manufactures, owners and operators, as well as the HSE.