There are 5 key steps to making sure that safety is a main concern. The first step is completing a Walk-Around Inspection to be able to insure that the unit is visually safe. Then assess if the work place is safe to use with a Worksite Assessment. The Function Test is the third step so as to determine whether or not the model is safely working. The 4th thing to think about is Proper Operation, in order to know whether or not the unit is operating safely. Lastly, Proper Shutdown must be checked in order to make sure the unit is in a safe place and is capable of shutting down properly.
At the center of the 5 steps and this regulation, there is a machinery that lifts heavy weights to impressive heights and stands on a triangular footprint. The main objective is to keep the telehandler upright, but of course there are risks.
The triangular base of the telehandler 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 inside the stability triangle.
When the boom is down, adding a load to the forks at that same time moves the center of gravity down and forward. Lifting the load would move the center of gravity to the rear and upwards. At the same time, when this occurs, the stability triangle shrinks. Hence, the higher you lift a load, the less of a margin for error you have as 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 which could change the stability triangle and leave less room for the frame to remain balanced if it is not completely level. Like 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 a point on the boom and the center of the ground. If the frame is not level, the center of gravity will not be oriented over the machine's centerline. The stability triangle is always aligned with the centerline of the telehandler.