WorkCover issued an alert about telescopic handlers. The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance wishes to thank Ray Brown and David Hird for their help in clarifying the relevance of the alert to Alliance members in Film and Theatre.
Comments from David Hird:
Note: David's comments are not to be taken as a legal reference, and users of such devices should check with the equipment supplier for instructions or with WorkCover for clarification.
We commonly refer to these "telescopic handlers" as "manitou" forklifts, as manitou is a common brand of supplier. They are indeed used in film production, and we are encouraging them be used more often.
"Underslinging" equipment from them is often an extremely useful way to move equipment, and a method I'd previously always considered safe, if done properly. Operators have either a workcover forklift certificate or non slewing crane certificate, depending on the capacity of the manitou. Hire companies supply the jib attachments that WorkCover are mentioning.
What WorkCover are saying is some Manitou's are designed for use with a jib and underslung loads and others are not. accordingly it would be in the interest of our industry that all potential operators be notified that all machines should be used with extreme caution until suppliers identify which machines are capable of carrying loads in which manner.
Manitou's are most often used by construction or rigging departments, but may also be used by sfx, elex., grips or stunts.
