Victoria’s telehandler licensing “not fit for industry”

Victorian hay growers and contractors have expressed concern and confusion over the non-slewing crane course requirement for telehandlers in the state.

LICENSE HEADACHE: A Victorian hay contracting company has labelled a non-slewing crane course for telehandlers as “irrelevant”.

HAY contracting businesses have labelled a non-slewing crane course needed to operate a telehandler as a “mistake” and not fit for the industry.

And sending staff to Melbourne for the course would have been unsafe this season amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It comes as additions made to the WorkSafe licence needed in Victoria came into play in May, with the licence now resulting in more costs and time away from farms for growers.

This prompted calls from the Victorian Farmers Federation for the licence to be amended to ensure it is relevant for farmers.

One hay contractor, who wished to remain anonymous, said staff had completed a course for telehandlers under three tonnes to operate their machinery, which fell under that weight.

“This course ticks all the safety boxes,” she said.

“The (non-slewing crane) course is irrelevant and a mistake and not fit for the industry. It doesn’t provide any extra safety measures.”

Hay baling for the company has begun in the Mallee, and with restrictions placed on the state for travel, if the team needed to undertake a non-slewing crane course, there would be a slim possibility for them to do so this season.

“Sending workers to Melbourne ahead of the season wouldn’t be possible,” she said.

Meanwhile, Nanneella hay grower Murray Glass questioned why telehandlers were the only piece of machinery to come under the spotlight, when wheel loaders, which he said could carry up to five tonnes, did not need to be licensed.

Mr Glass said as well as a three-tonne telehandler he also used a wheel loader – which seemed to have side-stepped scrutiny.

He said the machine was almost as versatile as a telehandler, but without the same reach, and questioned if the course was based on weight or the height of a piece of machinery.

“Why target one particular item in a tool chest?” he said.

“If there is a licence requirement (for telehandlers) growers may just look at a plan B.”

MORE: CALLS FOR CRANE COURSE FOR TELEHANDLERS TO BE AMENDED

FARMERS REQUIRED TO OBTAIN CRANCE LICENCE TO OPERATE TELEHANDLER