There are 5 important steps to making sure that safety is a main concern. The initial step is completing a Walk-Around Inspection to be able to assure that the unit is visually safe. After that check if the work location is safe to operate in with a Worksite Assessment. The Function Test is the third step so as to know whether or not the model is working safely. The 4th thing to consider is Proper Operation, in order to determine whether or not the model is working safely. Lastly, Proper Shutdown has to be checked so as to make sure the model 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 which stands on a triangular footprint and lifts heavy weights to impressive heights. The main goal is to maintain the telehandler upright, but surely there are risks.
The triangular base of the telehandler consists of the two front wheels and the rear-axle pivot point. The rear axles usually oscillates, hence the rear wheels are not considered part of the base. The telehandler remains upright so long as the equipment's center of gravity, which is defined as the point in 3 dimensions around which the machine's weight is balanced, stays oriented inside the stability triangle.
When a load is positioned on the forks while the boom is down, the center of gravity down and forward. The load if lifted would move the center of gravity upwards to the rear. At the same time, when this happens, the stability triangle shrinks. Thus, the higher you lift a load, the less of a margin for error you have since the stability triangle lessens.
When the stability triangle is small, it leaves less room for the center of gravity to move left or right. It is this wandering action that can change the stability triangle and leave less room for the frame to remain balanced if it is not completely level. For example, imagine the center of gravity resembling a plumb bob hanging from the boom. You can always find the center of gravity someplace on a totally vertical line between the center of the ground and a point on the boom. If the frame is not level, the center of gravity would not be oriented over the centerline of the equipment. The stability triangle is continuously aligned with the centerline of the machine.