26.08.2005

Australians issue telehandler alert

WorkCover, the Australian health and safety body, has issued a Safety alert regarding the lifting of suspended loads with telehandlers following an accident. Details of the accident were not available but it involved a tip over, due to lifting a suspended load on a slope.

Essentially the safety alert makes the point that Telehandlers are not designed specifically to lift suspended loads. It confirms that when using a suspended load attachment, the machine must meet AS1418.5, part five the Australian mobile crane standard. In New South Wales Telehandlers are already categorised as a form of mobile crane.,

However most states apparently accept compliance with European standard EN1459, this new alert puts companies in Australia that this is not acceptable for suspended loads. Workforce intends to pursue this subject and warns employers that they are responsible for ensuring that any telehandlers they own or use must be properly equipped with appropriate safety equipment such as load indicators and tilt sensors for each attachment that they intend to use, .

You can download the full alert on line click here