Telehandler lifting is where many UK sites blur the lines between “can” and “competent”. The confusion usually sits between CPCS A17e and A77: both involve lifting, but they do not cover the same machines or risks. Choose wrong, and you build a lift plan on the wrong base, with gaps in control, insurance headaches, and a higher chance of a near miss. Choose right, and routine slung loads stay routine, even under pressure.
TL;DR
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– A17e covers suspended loads on a standard (non‑360 slew) telehandler; A77 is for 360‑slew “roto” telehandlers.
– A17e is an add‑on to your A17 telehandler category; it doesn’t make you a slinger/signaller or cover 360‑slew.
– Any suspended load needs a competent slinger/signaller and a simple lift plan as a minimum; escalate if complexity rises.
– Don’t mix categories: locking the slew on a 360 machine doesn’t make it A17. Use the right ticket for the machine you’re on.
A17e vs A77 in plain site terms
/> Think in two steps: the machine, then the lift. If you’re on a standard telehandler (all sizes, non‑360 slew) and you’ll use a hook or jib to lift a slung or suspended load, you’re in A17e territory. A17e is an endorsement to A17; it shows you understand how a suspended load behaves from a telehandler and how to work with a signaller. It doesn’t turn a telehandler into a crane, and it doesn’t cover rotating machines.
If you’re on a 360‑slew telehandler – the rotating “roto” type with stabilisers and duty charts – you need A77. These machines bring crane‑like behaviours: radius management, configuration choices, stabiliser set‑up, and rated capacity indicators that you must read and respect. A17e does not transfer to A77; they are different animals with different risk profiles.
Teams matter. A competent slinger/signaller is needed on any suspended load, whether you’re on A17e or A77. Supervisory oversight should match the complexity of the lift, and an appointed person’s input is sensible once lifts go beyond basic, especially if it’s out‑of‑sight, over people, or tight on radius. NPORS offers equivalent categories and suspended‑load options; site rules usually accept either scheme if evidence of competence is clear.
How it plays out on busy UK sites
/> Day to day, placing pallets on forks with a non‑360 telehandler sits under your base A17 category, with normal segregation and banksman support. The moment you take a load on a hook, drum lifter, or jib, it’s a suspended load. That’s where A17e is expected, plus a signaller and a short lift brief that covers route, exclusion, and wind.
If the job needs you to reach around structures, lift at long radius, or slew while holding a load steady, you’re drifting towards a crane‑type operation. That’s the 360‑slew space and A77, with stabilisers, duty charts, and stricter set‑up. Expect checks on ground bearing, a clearer lift plan, and a supervisor who’s comfortable controlling lifting ops. Communication – hand signals or radios – must be nailed down, and exclusion must be real, not just cones no one respects.
Attachments, hooks, and quick hitches need in‑date thorough examination and proper connection. Pre‑use checks aren’t paperwork for the office; they pick up cracked forks, damaged hooks, loose pins, and worn tyres that change brake and steer performance under load. Weather calls matter, especially with long or top‑heavy loads that act like sails. If in doubt, stop and re‑brief – it’s cheaper than a dropped bundle and a reportable incident.
Scenario: tight lift at a mixed‑use refurb
/> A city‑centre refurb is craned out and relying on a telehandler to unload steel sections and feed the frame crew inside a hoarded footprint. It’s raining, with gusty wind funnelled down the street. Deliveries slip, and the frame lead asks the telehandler to sling a 7‑metre beam from the road and fly it over a welfare cabin. The operator holds an A17 blue card with A17e, and the plant on hire is a standard (non‑360) telehandler with a hook attachment. The signaller can keep the load in sight for most of the route, but the last few metres are blind behind the cabin. The supervisor calls a pause: the route demands controlled slew the machine can’t do, wind is pushing the beam, and there’s public interface risk at the hoarding line. The decision is to redesign the route for a ground‑level feed, increase exclusion, and split the beams; a 360‑slew telehandler is booked for the next day to place to final position with a clearer plan and stable weather.
Pitfalls and fixes in telehandler lifting
/> Small judgement errors stack quickly in lifting operations. The cleanest fix is choosing the correct category for the machine on day one of procurement and keeping the lift plan honest about what’s happening, not what you hope will happen. Treat A17e as your ticket to manage suspended loads on a standard telehandler with a competent signaller; treat A77 as its own craft on rotating telehandlers.
Brief your team every time conditions change: different load geometry, wet ground, extra trades walking through your route. Practise hand signals and radio protocol – vague comms are a common thread in near misses. Keep your attachments and hooks in test and traceable. And if your gut says “this feels like a crane job”, it probably is.
# Common mistakes
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– Using A17e on a 360‑slew telehandler because the slew can be locked. Category follows the machine’s fundamental capability, not today’s setting.
– Expecting the operator to sling, operate, and supervise the lift alone. Suspended loads need a separate, competent signaller at minimum.
– Ignoring wind on long or sheeted loads. Gusts make a stable lift unstable in seconds.
– Lifting with uncertified or mismatched attachments. Hooks, jibs, and quick hitches need correct fitment and up‑to‑date examination.
# Checklist: choosing the right category and set‑up
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– Confirm machine type on hire: non‑360 telehandler (A17) or 360‑slew “roto” (A77), and verify cards against it.
– For suspended loads on a standard telehandler, check the operator has A17e; for rotating telehandlers, insist on A77.
– Inspect hooks, jibs, and slings; ensure correct fitment and in‑date thorough examination with identifiable tags or records.
– For 360‑slew, review the duty chart/RCI and plan radius, height, and configuration; for all lifts, check boom extension vs load weight.
– Agree signals or radios, appoint a competent signaller, and mark an enforced exclusion zone with a clear route and spotters if needed.
– Check ground conditions, gradients, and wind; avoid travelling with suspended loads unless the plan and conditions support it.
– Write a simple lift brief with roles, route, stop points, and weather limits; get it signed off by the responsible supervisor.
Staying competent: training, assessment and refresher realities
/> Initial training gets you safe on the basics; assessments check you can apply that under pressure. Experienced operators moving to suspended loads on a standard telehandler tend to add A17e with targeted training and assessment. Moving to a 360‑slew telehandler is not a top‑up; it’s a separate category with different behaviours and a fuller learning curve. Plan time on the training ground and supervised hours on site before you’re left solo.
Competence drifts when you don’t regularly lift, swap between models, or change attachments. Short refreshers, toolbox talks, and in‑house familiarisation on the specific machine and attachments make a difference. Keep simple evidence: cards, familiarisation records, and recent lifting experience noted in a log. Supervisors and assessors look for the thinking: reading the chart, checking the wind, setting exclusion, and stopping when the plan no longer fits the reality.
The next pinch points will come from tighter logistics, last‑minute attachment swaps, and weather windows. The bottom line: match the card to the machine, keep the lift plan honest, and let the signaller earn their space.
FAQ
# When is A17e enough for suspended lifts?
/> A17e is suitable when you’re using a standard, non‑360 telehandler to handle slung or suspended loads with simple routes and clear sightlines. You still need a competent slinger/signaller and a basic lift brief. If the lift involves long radius, obstructions, out‑of‑sight placement, or feels crane‑like, escalate supervision and consider alternative plant.
# Do I need A77 if the 360‑slew is pinned to non‑slew?
/> Yes. The competence requirement follows the machine’s inherent capability, not how you choose to configure it on the day. A 360‑slew telehandler brings systems and risks that A77 covers, including stabilisation, duty charts, and slew‑related controls.
# Can the telehandler operator also act as the slinger/signaller?
/> Not for suspended loads. The operator needs an independent set of eyes to manage the load path, watch blind spots, and control exclusion. On small sites people try to double‑hat; it’s a common fail point and usually flagged by supervisors and auditors.
# What do assessors generally look for in CPCS/NPORS telehandler lifting tests?
/> They expect safe, methodical operation: proper pre‑use checks, attachment selection and inspection, reading the capacity information, and controlled movements. Communication with a signaller, managing exclusion, and reacting to changing conditions are watched closely. Paperwork should be proportionate but real: a short plan or brief, not a binder.
# How often should telehandler lifting competence be refreshed?
/> Refreshers are sensible when you’ve had a long gap in lifting work, when you move to new models or attachments, or when site audits highlight drift. Many employers schedule periodic refreshers and in‑house familiarisation to keep skills current. If you’re stepping up to 360‑slew, plan a full category assessment and supervised hours before solo work.
