Masonry Magazine September 2001 Page. 14
COVER STORY
Telescopic forklifts (telehandlers) have evolved into one of the more useful and versatile pieces of equipment on today's masonry jobsites. It is a relatively new tool compared to, lets say, scaffolding which has been an integral part of construction of all types for centuries. The first telehandlers were developed by Chrysler Corporation during World War II for the military. These units had extension capabilities of four feet and could be utilized with either a fork carriage or a bucket. For many years after the war, the conventional masted forklift and lattice arm loader remained the standard for jobsite material handling. It was not until 1972 that the first true telehandlers were introduced for domestic construction use. It did not take long for the construction industry to recognize the dawn of a new era in construction site material handling.
SAFETY STANDARDS
In choosing the telehandler most suitable for your job, there are many issues that must be addressed. First and foremost is safety. Telehandler safety is twofold in that you must select the correct machine to fulfill your job requirements and assure that your operators have been trained in the safe operation of the machine. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) are the governing bodies for rough terrain forklift stability standards referred to as ASME B56.6-1992 SAFETY STANDARDS FOR ROUGH TERRAIN FORKLIFT TRUCKS. This revision of the 1987 standard has increased sideward stability requirements in an effort to decrease the number of injuries occurring due to "rollovers." Addendums to this standard can be released yearly and the latest addendum was released in 1998. The 1998 Addendum (ASME B56.6b-1998 ADDENDA) deals primarily with the required installation of Roll Over Protective Structure (ROPS) on all machines produced from that point forward.
Always be sure that your telehandler meets or exceeds these minimum standards required by ASME/ANSI. These standards are available through ASME or ANSI and are available on the internet. This is extremely important when purchasing used equipment or renting equipment manufactured prior to 1992. The stability of the telehandler affects not only the operator, but every person on the job site. Equally important is training in the safe operation of a telehandler. In December 1999, legislation was enacted (OSHA 1910.178(1) Operator Training Requirements for Powered Industrial Trucks) requiring all persons operating any powered industrial trucks (telehandlers) to receive instruction in the proper operation of these vehicles. OSHA is the enforcement arm of this requirement. The Equipment Manufacturers Institute (EMI) offers a safety training program, that meets OSHA requirements, and was specifically developed for the proper operation of telescopic forklifts and certification of the operators successfully completing the program. For information on this program contact your local dealer, telehandler manufacturer or EMI. The Mason Con-