Published in conjunction with the Telescopic Handlers Association, the Telehandler Safety Handbook is a practical guide with sound advice for telehandler use on farms.

Senior farm safety advisor for the VFF Farm Safety Team, John Darcy, said the Handbook has been produced following a tragic accident on a Victorian farm last year.

"Following that incident which resulted in a fatality from a telehandler contacting overhead wires, we started looking for appropriate resources for farmers and telehandlers," Darcy said.

"And while there was a lot of information on use for construction and industrial purposes, unfortunately there was little detail on farm-specific use for telehandlers," he said.

"So the VFF farm safety team has been working closely with industry, including the Telescopic Handler Association, to produce the handbook."

Darcy is encouraging all farmers to improve their knowledge of telehandler use with a particular focus on safety and duty of care.

Some of the key messages in the Handbook include to make sure the telehandler boom is lowered during transport where possible to maximise stability, ensuring the operator view from the cab is not obstructed and to be aware of licensing requirements and training.

A copy of the Handbook can be found here: https://bit.ly/3kZC2WR