04.10.2012

Telehandler overturns

Several readers have sent in a video of a telehandler that overturned in Sweden on Monday.

The Manitou telehandler, possibly a 25 metre MRT2540, was working on the new Maxi Ica shopping centre in Värmdö when the incident occurred.
Please register to see all images

The telehandler that overturned in Värmdö, Sweden on Monday

The video does not show how the operator caused the telehandler to tilt forward in the first place but it most certainly due to overloading, not helped by the fact that the outriggers have not been deployed, in spite of the fact that the boom is extended to a significant height.

Having made the error, the operator proceeds to remove the load and attempt to self-right the machine, by retracting the boom. However the weight and momentum of the correction causes the machine to overturn rearwards close to a busy road.

Miraculously no one was seriously injured in the incident although this might not have been the case had the boom come down and struck a passing vehicle. There is also the added risk of an accident occurring as a result of the cars slowing to take a look. The road was later closed while the machine was removed.

To see the video that could very easily have ended differently click here

Manufacturer’s comment:

We asked Manitou for input on this incident and received the following comment: "The use of a rotating telehandler with long fork extensions, in applications at height needs a specific load chart in the machine. This does not seem to be the case in this video. We suppose that the security/safety systems have been bypassed. Under no circumstances, should the overriding of any cut-offs be used to go beyond the capabilities of the machine.
Considering the working environment and the kind of application, the deployment of stabilizers would have made the machine use safer. Respecting the load chart according to the attachment and the working environment secures the operator and his colleagues. We very much regret that this has not been implemented. "

Vertikal Comment

It is quite clear that the operator of this machine had no idea what he was doing and should have been nowhere near the cab of such a sophisticated machine.

His principle problem is that he seems totally unaware of the fact that this machine has out and down outriggers. Otherwise he would have set them in the first place, in fact it is surprising that he was even able to extend the boom to this level without setting them.

Secondly he would have retracted and then lowered the boom at the same time and at least lowered his jacks at the back. This is a case where the employer or whomever was responsible for putting such an incompetent operator in the machine – should be subject to a stiff fines and exposure.