19.08.2014
Telehandler and platform overturns
Two men were injured at a music festival in the UK yesterday, when a telehandler equipped with a platform overturned.
One man was operating the telehandler from the cab, while the other was working from a platform attached to the machine's forks, when the unit overturned onto its side. The man in the platform suffered a broken leg, while his colleague in the cab was reported to be suffering from head injuries.
The telehandler was working on grass with the boom well extended and stabilisers raised, one report we received suggested that the machine was being driven when it went over – but we have not been able to confirm that.
Please register to see all images
The scene shortly after the emergency services arrived
The incident occurred at the Beautiful Days event at Escot Park in Talaton, near Ottery St Mary, East Devon. The men were dismantling one of the temporary structures on the site, after the music festival had finished. They were airlifted to a local hospital.
Nigel Perrin
It is ridiculous to ban man baskets on Telehandlers that conform to the EN280 standard as they can be as safe as any other MEWP.
Banning non EN280 baskets (non integrated platforms with no safety devices and controls) would be a better move as this is where the actual problem is, and guidance for non integrated platforms is often interpreted wrongly.
jim-longstaff
Lets hope these men make a full recovery.
Is this now the time for the use of man baskets on Telehandlers & Fork Lift Trucks to be banned?
There are numerous other machines which are designed specifically to undertake the task of lifting personnel. This type of product is only used for cost-saving purposes, otherwise IPAF would have a category for it in their PAL training courses.
Time for IPAF to step up to the plate on this one methinks.