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Anuj Patel Telehandler Maintenance & Safety Checklist: What to Know Before You Hire
Date: 05/01/26
Are you considering taking advantage of our telehandler hire service? Do you want to hear more about the benefits of adding telehandler attachments to your plant hire agreement with Ardent? Our team helps businesses in a variety of sectors, providing telehandlers and a range of telehandler attachments to suit a wide range of tasks and project sites. Telehandlers provide a versatile and powerful machine in modern construction and infrastructure projects for improved site efficiency. Our telehandler hire service offers flexibility, safety, and reliability, and for construction equipment safety, these key safety checks are built into our package.
Why is telehandler safety and maintenance critical?
Why is telehandler safety so important to your project? First, there is UK regulatory compliance to be aware of, such as HSE, LOLER, and PUWER. These all play a part in maintaining high safety standards in industries where there are inherent dangers in every task and on every site. A well-maintained machine, as part of your telehandler hire agreement, not only improves site efficiency but also reduces the instances of accidents on site. In turn, this lowers injury and fatality rates, improves cost efficiencies on site, and minimises project delays. Safety starts before the machine arrives on site, and that’s why it is important to work with a reputable heavy plant hire company such as Ardent Hire.
The pre-hire inspection: What should I ask my provider?
What should you look for when hiring a telehandler? The key points are:
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The service history of the machine – it’s important that there is a transparent maintenance log, so that you have faith in every item that you hire from us.
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The age of the fleet – we are always looking to evolve our fleet, upgrading whenever possible to the latest models to boost productivity, improve safety standards, and to increase fuel efficiency.
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Repairs and support – if there is a breakdown on site, our team will be there to help as soon as possible, minimising delays to your project and offering a replacement if required.
The Ardent team puts every piece of machinery and equipment through its paces between every single hire. This ensures that the above points are met and that it is safe to use when you put it on site. As a plant hire provider, it’s important to us that you have trust in our fleet, providing a reliable equipment hire service.
Your essential daily telehandler maintenance checklist
Before operating machinery on site, it is important that you run through some simple yet thorough maintenance checks. This ensures that the telehandler hire is in optimal working condition and is safe to use on upcoming tasks. This includes:
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Visual inspections – check the tyre safety and wheels for any cuts and for pressure, fluid levels such as engine oil, coolant, fuel, and hydraulic fluid, and the structure, such as forks, boom, and chassis for any damage.
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Functional checks – hydraulic inspection is important, such as the boom lift, extension, and tilt, safety devices such as the Load Moment Indicator (LMI), lights, and reversing cameras and alarms, alongside brakes and steering.
Daily telehandler checks make sure everything is in working order before you start the day.
Operating safely: load charts and ground conditions
Another aspect to consider each day seriously is the site's ground conditions and the telehandler load charts. This ensures that you are aware of the safe lifting capacity of the telehandler. You should never exceed the rated lift capacity or use telehandlers on unsafe terrain. Only trained operators should perform tasks with a telehandler on site.
Ready to secure reliable telehandler hire for your next project?
Ardent is committed to safety, regularly upgrading our fleet to the latest models to improve safety standards. Explore our range of telehandler hire options and our friendly team is here to offer advice and guidance. Contact Ardent Hire today to discuss your heavy plant hire requirements. You can call us on 03333 202 555 or email hire@ardenthire.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Although you don’t need a license to hire a telehandler, the person operating the telehandler on site must hold a valid certification (such as NPORS or CPCS) to comply with health and safety laws in the UK.
A pre-check should be performed by the operator on site before every shift. Thorough examinations are required every 6 to 12 months, but we will inspect and maintain the telehandler between every hire.
Isolate the machine, remove the keys, and place a ‘do not operate’ tag on it before contacting your plant hire provider (Ardent) for support.
Load capacity issues leading to overturning, driving with the boom raised, and uneven ground checks are important, as these are common causes of accidents involving telehandlers.
