Farm News
Are your
telehandler
operators
sufficiently
covered?
» » WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF
increased capacity vehicles, it is imperative
that both farm managers and telehandler
operators understand their legal
responsibilities and requirements, advise
leading independent insurance brokers,
Farmers & Mercantile.
Operators can take a certificate of
competency from the age of 16 and will
be able to operate the telehandler on
farm once achieved, but they will not be
permitted to drive on roads even with a
tractor licence. The operator will need to
hold a full driving licence at age 17+ before
they can drive the vehicle on the road,
although further weight restrictions still
apply.
Between the ages of 17-18, the
operator will only be able to drive a
telehandler of up to 3.5 tonnes on the
road. From 18-21 telehandlers of up to 7.5
tonnes can be driven on road, and after
the age of 21 telescopic handlers of over
7.5 tonnes can be operated on the road.
This is assuming a full driving licence is
held.
A telehandler is classed as a different
category of farm vehicle to a tractor. While
an operator can drive a combined weight
tractor and trailer of up to 32 tonnes on
the road at the age of 17 with a standard
driving licence, this does not apply to
telehandlers. And as the majority of new
telehandlers will exceed the 7.5 tonne
weight restriction, it is vitally important to
ensure operators are sufficiently covered
before taking to the road.
It is equally important to comply with
PUWER (Provision and Use of Work
Equipment Regulations 1998) and LOLER
(Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment
Regulations 1998) requirements.
The Farmers & Mercantile engineering
division will not only advise on operator
licences, but also provides PUWER and
LOLER inspection services to ensure
all lifting equipment complies with HSE
regulations.
Call 01604 782782 or email engineering@
fandmgroup.co.uk for details.
Proud to have been fuelling Britain’s
Farms for more than 80 years.
Fuels | Lubricants | Tanks | AdBlue | Fuel cards
RSVP for the Rix Farmers day event today - see page 29 for more details!
0800 542 4207 | [email protected] | www.rix.co.uk
www.farmers-mart.co.uk Spring 2017 13