The Many Versatile Uses of a Telehandler for Jobsites

A truck is being lifted by multiple telehandler crane attachments.

What are the Benefits of using a Telehandler on a Jobsite?

Imagine that you work at a job where you, your coworkers, or your employees need to get up to high places. For instance, perhaps you work in construction, in tree-trimming, at a farm, or at a warehouse. How are you safely going to get yourself or a coworker up high to do a precarious job while following OSHA safety regulations and preventing jobsite injuries? Without the proper equipment, this would be a challenging task. That’s where telehandlers come into play. Short for “telescopic handler”, these vehicles are similar to forklifts. Telehandlers are versatile hydraulic lifting machines that allow for safe lifting practices on a variety of job sites. We are Lombardi Lift and our team designed our own, unique telehandler and aerial work platform. Today we would like to discuss the many uses for telehandlers and the benefits of using them for your projects on the jobsite.

The Differences between Telehandlers and Forklifts

Before we dive into the benefits of telehandlers, we wanted to outline the clear distinctions it has from forklifts to avoid any confusion. These two pieces of equipment are both incredible units that make the lives of millions of workers much easier every day, but there are some key differences.

Functionality: Forklifts are designed to move things up and down for the most part, and to some extent forward and backward. While the functionality is very simple, it is very effective. Telehandlers, on the other hand, can typically extend further than forklifts, can rotate more easily, and don’t need to move the base of the machine to move the boom forward and backward.
Capability: Forklifts are smaller and are capable of fitting into smaller spaces, which is why they are often the preferred vehicle for indoor spaces such as warehouses. Telehandlers are a bit bigger and are capable of reaching greater heights. Also, the booms of telehandlers are designed to fit different attachments, such as our Lombardi Lift Versatile Work Platform, which gives these vehicles a wide range of capabilities based on the attachments.
Common Uses: Forklifts are more common in warehouses, although larger warehouses often have telehandlers as well. Forklifts are smaller and simple to use so they are perfect for maneuvering in smaller warehouses and moving materials indoors. Telehandlers can be safely used for lifting people using an attachment like our work platform. The attachments for telehandlers can also include scoops, buckets, winches, or even hooks that allow them to operate similarly to a crane. Since they are so versatile, they are highly preferred over forklifts for construction work, farm work, and for the work of other outdoor industries.

The Benefits of Telehandlers

As we mentioned above, telehandlers are a very versatile vehicle that can make the lives of workers so much easier. Here are some of the main benefits.

All-in-One: Since they are one vehicle that can perform a wide variety of tasks using different attachments, these attachments can save companies a lot of money, time, and resources by not requiring multiple vehicles to get the job done. They are very cost-effective, and are often the first piece of equipment on the jobsite and the last one off.
No Limits: While this is a bit of an exaggeration, compared to a forklift the telehandler is practically unlimited. The design is so versatile that it allows the boom to reach high places, rotate with ease, and operate unconventionally to make otherwise complicated tasks with more limited machines much simpler.
Any Environment: A telehandler can leverage weight on any surface, even rough terrain on a farm or debris-filled terrain in a construction site. This of course means that they can also easily handle smooth, flat surfaces like pavement or the concrete in warehouses. Since it can work as a crane or a lift, indoors or outdoors, it gives you more options than any other similar device.

Top Telehandler Brands

These are some of the best telehandler brands in the marker. It is always important to do research before investing in an expensive piece of equipment like a telehandler, so we encourage you to do your own research, but these are a few of the top brands that we would recommend:

JLG
Caterpillar
SkyTrak
Manitou
Lombardi Lift

We proudly acknowledge our great competitors who also work hard to make people’s lives easier by making these incredible, versatile aerial lifts. Our industry is competitive, but the work that we do is important because of the great benefits from our aerial lift vehicles.

Lift Your Team up This Year

Are you interested in investing in a telehandler? If so, that’s great news! You will save your company a lot of time, money, and resources by doing so. Please feel free to contact the Lombardi Lift team if you have any questions about our original versatile work platform or telehandlers in general. We are happy to answer your questions and we hope to see you lift your team up in 2023!

February 16, 2023March 21, 2023

Safety and Versatility in Construction

Man in construction hat and vest stands in front of work truck and scaffolding.

The Construction Industry is More Dangerous than You Might Expect

There is an old saying that “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, because it took many hundreds of years to build the great city of Rome. To this day construction projects can still take many years to complete, but the result becomes homes, businesses, towns, and whole cities. Construction is an incredible industry that is vital to our society, and for those who work in construction it is a lucrative career. The hard work and tangible result of construction can bring a sense of satisfaction for workers and foremen alike. However, there is a very dark side to the construction industry: danger.

There are more than 100,000 construction-related injuries reported each year, and nearly 10 in every 100,000 resulted in death. Based on the nature of the work, it does not come as a surprise that it can be dangerous, but the numbers are higher than one might expect, especially considering the OSHA regulations and modern safety technology available. Our team here at Lombardi Lift designed our own, unique telehandler and aerial work platform, and its primary use is on construction sites. So, while we are familiar with the excellence of the construction industry, we are also familiar with the danger in the industry. Today we would like to discuss safety and versatility in construction projects.

The Risks Posed to Construction Workers

Even if you are not involved in the construction industry, chances are that you have walked or driven past (or through) a construction project and seen what it looks like. The job sites are usually very hectic with a lot of people on foot, in vehicles, and even high up in cranes or in safety harnesses working in a precarious spot. Unfortunately, with so many risk factors, injury is inevitable. According to OSHA, there are four main causes of death on construction sites, including:

Falls
Caught-in-or-between
Struck-by
Electrocution

Some have dubbed these as the “Fatal Four” because they are the bane of the construction industry and combined cause the majority of construction-related deaths. So, with all of these risk factors being posed to construction workers, how can they stay safe on the jobsite?

Safety in Construction

The best way to stay safe on the job is to wear safety equipment, stay alert, operate all equipment in a safe and appropriate way, to communicate with your team, and to be aware of your surroundings. As we mention our versatile work platform is an attachment for a Telehandler .Telehandlers are an excellent type of vehicle that can have multiple different functions. It’s primary function is lifting materials. The Lombardi Lift Attachment offers a new dimension creating “ real dual use” , fundermentally offering the contractor an increase in productivity and decrease in expenses. Therefore, eliminating the need for other aerial lifts that offer work platforms without the flexiblility of the Lombardi Lift Attachment. Not only is using a telehandler cost-effective and easy to operate, but it eliminates some of the risks of construction by removing the need for multiple vehicles.. If you haven’t seen it already, we recommend that you read our Safety Checklist for Telehandlers and Aerial Lifts. This is a thorough checklist for what to do prior to starting a construction job using a telehandler in order to ensure safety on the worksite.

Best Practices for Safely Operating a Telehandler

If your project includes an aerial lift or telehandler, and you have already read through the safety checklist, then you should follow these best practices once you start operating the vehicle.

Wear your seatbelt if you are the operator
Know your weight limit and do not exceed the maximum capacity
Refer to your owner’s manual if you are unsure about anything
Ensure stability by keeping the telehandler and load within the stable triangle
Keep the boom low as you travel to avoid “struck-by” accidents
Always operate at an appropriate and controllable speed
If your machine falls over, do not try to jump out
Ensure that the chassis is level when handling loads

Keep Your Construction Site Safer with a Telehandler

Construction can be a dangerous industry, so it is important to take any possible measures to increase safety. Investing in a telehandler is both cost-effective and allows you to create a safer jobsite by minimizing the amount of equipment and potential safety hazards. When businesses are deciding what brand of telehandler to choose, safety should be their number one priority. Major manufacturers, like JLG, Genie, and others often rank among the top telehandlers because they are big name brands that prioritize safety for their users. Similarly, that’s why a lot of people choose Lombardi Lift. Our versatile work platform is a great piece of equipment and we pride ourselves on its safety features and ease of use. Please feel free to contact the Lombardi Lift team if you are interested in our telehandlers. We are happy to answer your questions and help you invest in a safe piece of construction equipment to keep all of your workers safe on your next construction project.

February 14, 2023February 14, 2023

Safety Checklist for Telehandlers and Aerial Lifts

Construction worker is up in a aerial lift at a jobsite. The lift is the Lombardi Lift.

The Best Ways to Stay Safe when using Telehandlers

The phrase “safety first” is a commonly used adage that can apply to a wide variety of situations. When it comes to heavy machinery and equipment, however, it is essential to take that phrase seriously. Telehandlers are a popular piece of equipment on virtually every construction site and many other aerial applications.. While they are an incredibly helpful tool that makes so many jobs easier, they can be extremely dangerous if they are not used properly and if “safety first” is not the priority of the operator. Here at Lombardi Lift Attachment have designed our own telehandler aerial work platform, so we know firsthand about the importance of practicing safety when using telehandlers. Let’s take a closer look at why it is important and how to stay safe.

Staying Safe

Not only does a safety checklist keep yourself, your employees, and anyone else on your jobsite safe, but it also allows you to meet industry standards..The Lombardi Lift is designed to comply with ANSI B56.6 ( American National Standards). ANSI provides voluntary standards for products. Other entities like OSHA offer workplace safety guidelines and training. For the most part industry manufacturers set the standards for Telehandlers and Aerial Lifts. Meeting these standards will help to ensure your workers are safe.

Step 1) Telehandler Safety Training

The best place to start your safety checklist is with proper safety training. Ensure that your workers are aware of industry regulations and safety policies, as well as best practices and proper operation of the telehandler before you allow them to step foot in the machine. Safety training includes awareness of risks, the ability to recognize hazards, the confidence to operate the machinery precisely while navigating around obstacles, and the ability to inspect the equipment before and after use.

Step 2) Equipment Inspections

As we mentioned above, the ability to inspect Telehandlers is important for workers and should happen prior to starting a job. Lift operators should inspect both the lift itself as well as the vehicle that the lift is attached to before usage. Some components to consider are:

Lift Safety Checklist: Electrical, fuel, air, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems, emergency and operating controls, guardrails and other safety devices, insulated components like fiberglass, stabilizers and any additional equipment, locking pins , and mechanical fasteners
Vehicle Safety Checklist: Wheels and tires, steering, battery and charger, fluid leaks and fluid levels, brakes, and all other controls

Once the lift and the vehicle have both been thoroughly inspected, you can begin operating the machinery with much more confidence of safety. While inspections can seem tedious, they are so important because sometimes all it takes is for one small thing to be out of place for a terrible accident to occur.

Step 3) Worksite Inspection

In addition to inspecting your vehicles and equipment, you should also inspect the jobsite itself before you begin your work. Since Telehandlers are often used on construction sites, it is crucial that you thoroughly inspect your surroundings before you begin work. Construction sites in particular pose a number of safety hazards that can make a jobsite very dangerous, especially if these hazards are not taken into consideration before work begins. Let’s take a look at some worksite safety hazards to consider before you start a project.

Jobsite Safety Checklist: Uneven ground or unstable surfaces, holes and other sudden drop-offs, overhead obstructions such as powerlines, power boxes and other electrical equipment, ceilings, fans, and lighting if indoors, floor obstacles such as debris

You should also consider weather hazards such as high winds, heavy rainfall that weakens the ground, or ice and snow that might make a surface slippery. Also, be mindful of the location of the jobsite. If it is located in a busy area you might also need to be aware of cars driving by, other workers, and even pedestrians.

Step 4) Safety Equipment

You should make sure that your workers all have the proper safety equipment before starting a job. In fact, OSHA require anyone on the jobsite to have fall protection equipment, including helmets, harnesses, and restraining belts. As workers gain more experience and become experts, they may want to resist adhering to these safety measures because of their confidence in their ability to get the job done without safety gear. While it is always great to have confident lift workers who know what they are doing, neither you nor your workers should ever cut corners or avoid following the safety protocols. Accidents can happen, and an accident might not even be the fault of the person who gets hurt, so it is very important to insist that safety equipment is worn and properly used at all times on the jobsite.

Step 5) Work with Caution

The last step is to begin using the telehandler, but to do so cautiously. Once your workers have proper training, the equipment and vehicles are inspected, the jobsite is inspected, and all safety equipment is being worn it is safe to start the job. However, you should always work cautiously to avoid Telehandlers accidents or injuries. Sometimes, hazards might not pose themselves until the job is already underway, so it is best to never get too comfortable on a worksite. Remind your lift workers throughout the day to use caution, be aware of their surroundings, wear their safety equipment, and remember their training. By following this entire checklist, your crew should be able to safely perform their duties with telehandlers and aerial lifts.

Contact the Lombardi Lift Team

We hope that this safety checklist was helpful for you and that you will share it with anyone you know who uses telehandlers and aerial lifts in their line of work. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions for our team about our original versatile work platform. The Lombardi Lift helps you to maintain a safe work environment during all of your projects that require a telehandler.