To ensure that safety is a top priority, there are 5 important steps. In order to make certain that the unit is visually safe, the first step is to perform a Walk-Around Inspection. Next check if the worksite is safe to use with a Worksite Assessment. The Function Test is the third step in order to determine whether or not the model is working in a safe manner. The 4th thing to consider is Proper Operation, so as to know whether or not the unit is safely working. Lastly, Proper Shutdown must be checked so as to make sure the model is capable of shutting down properly and is in a safe place.
At the center of the 5 steps and this regulation, there is a machine that stands on a triangular footprint and lifts heavy weights to impressive heights. The main objective is to keep the telehandler upright, but surely there are dangers.
The telehandler's triangular base comprises the rear-axle pivot point and the two front wheels. The rear axles normally oscillates, hence the rear wheels are not considered part of the base. The telehandler remains upright so long as the machine's center of gravity, that is defined as the point in 3 dimensions around which the weight of the machinery is balanced, stays oriented in the stability triangle.
When a load is positioned on the forks while the boom is down, the center of gravity forward and down. The load if raised will change the center of gravity to the rear upwards. At the same time, the stability triangle shrinks when this occurs. Therefore, the higher you lift a load, the less of a margin for error you have because the stability triangle lessens.
When the stability triangle is small, it leaves less room for the center of gravity to move right or left. It is this wandering action that could change the stability triangle and leave less room for the frame to remain balanced if it is not perfectly level. For instance, imagine the center of gravity resembling a plumb bob hanging from the boom. You could always find the center of gravity someplace on a totally vertical line between the center of the ground and a point on the boom. If the frame is not level, the center of gravity would not be oriented over the centerline of the machine. The stability triangle is always aligned with the equipment's centerline.