Telehandlers get asked to do a lot on UK sites, and sooner or later someone wants to hang a load off a hook or a chain. That’s where the confusion starts: does the operator need the telehandler suspended loads endorsement (A17E), or is a slinger/signaller ticket (A40) enough in the team? They’re not interchangeable. One is about operating the machine as a lifting appliance with a free-swinging load; the other is about attaching, checking and guiding the load and controlling the lift.
TL;DR
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– A17E is for the telehandler operator when lifting free-swinging loads; A40 is for the slinger/signaller attaching and directing the lift.
– Most sites expect both roles covered: a telehandler operator with the right endorsement and a competent slinger/signaller on the ground.
– A hook or jib doesn’t remove the need for the right competence, lift planning and exclusion zones.
– Small or “quick” picks still need a plan, communications, pre-use checks, and weather checks.
– NPORS offers equivalent routes; site acceptance depends on client policy and evidence of competence.
Myths and realities on A17E and A40
# Myth: A40 lets me lift suspended loads on a telehandler
/> Reality: A40 proves you’re competent to sling and signal a lift, not to operate a telehandler with a suspended load. The operator needs telehandler competence plus the suspended loads endorsement (A17E) or an accepted equivalent. A40 complements A17E on the same job; it doesn’t replace it.
# Myth: If I hold A17E, I don’t need a slinger/signaller
/> Reality: A17E covers machine operation with a swinging load, but you still need a competent person on the ground to select and attach lifting gear, check the hitch, and give signals. Some very simple, low-risk tasks may allow role-combining under a plan and close supervision, but most principal contractors expect a separate slinger/signaller for suspended loads.
# Myth: If the load is small and close, it isn’t “suspended”
/> Reality: If it’s hanging from a hook, chain or sling and can swing, it’s a suspended load. Size doesn’t remove the risk of instability, tipping or load strike. Palletised loads carried squarely on forks with restraints are different from free-swinging picks and need a different approach.
# Myth: A hook attachment covers the competence gap
/> Reality: Attachments don’t confer competence. A hook or jib must be compatible, in date for inspection and used within its rated chart, but the operator still needs the suspended loads endorsement and the lift still needs a plan and a slinger/signaller.
A live-site scenario: housebuilding under wind and time pressure
/> On a mixed housing site, a telehandler is asked to lift roof trusses from a delivery wagon to a compound 30 metres away. It’s late afternoon, the wind has picked up and the area is tight with pedestrian routes running along the plot line. The site manager wants the wagon turned around before the end of shift. The operator holds a standard telehandler ticket without the suspended loads endorsement; the only available ground person is a labourer who has “helped out” on lifts before but holds no slinger/signaller ticket. A hook attachment is fitted and a chain sling appears from the back of a van. There is no agreed communication method, the exclusion zone is not set, and nobody has checked the wind against the lift plan. This is exactly where a small delay to organise the right competence and controls prevents a big incident.
What to do instead on UK sites
/> Think roles, plan and controls. If you’re lifting a free-swinging load on a telehandler, put an operator with A17E (or accepted equivalent) in the seat and a competent slinger/signaller (A40 or equivalent) on the ground. Have a proportionate lift plan—this can be a simple, recorded plan for straightforward, repetitive lifts, or something more detailed where loads, routes or conditions are complex. Make sure the attachment and lifting accessories are compatible and inspected, the telehandler charts are understood, and the route is suitable for travel with a suspended load if required.
Set an exclusion zone with physical barriers where practicable and stop non-essential movement through the area. Agree a single system of signals or radios and confirm who is in charge of the lift on the ground. Monitor weather, particularly wind, which can ruin stability with large, light loads like trusses or panels. Keep speeds low, booms retracted where possible, and use tag lines to help control swing—handled only by trained personnel, clear of pinch points.
# Checklist: setting up a telehandler suspended lift
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– Verify competencies: operator with suspended loads endorsement; slinger/signaller competent and briefed.
– Check machine and attachment: pre-use inspection, rated capacity charts for the attachment, and in-date inspection records for lifting gear.
– Define the lift: weight, centre of gravity, sling method, travel path, set-down area and ground conditions.
– Establish an exclusion zone and safe pedestrian/vehicle segregation; brief the route and spotters as needed.
– Confirm communications: hand signals or radios, who is calling the lift, who stops the job.
– Review the weather and environmental factors; apply site limits for wind and visibility.
– Execute a test lift, pause to check stability and clearances, and proceed at controlled speed.
# Common mistakes
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– Treating a suspended pick as “just another drop” and skipping the plan. That’s where uncontrolled swing and near-misses start.
– Using whatever sling turns up with no check on condition, SWL or compatibility. Damaged or mismatched gear fails when you need it most.
– Travelling with a long-reached, swinging load at speed. Stability collapses quickly with boom extension and movement.
– Letting the signaller wander. If the person giving signals isn’t visible and in control, the operator is effectively blind.
What to watch next
/> Card details matter. Supervisors should check that the operator’s card or record actually shows the suspended loads endorsement and that the slinger/signaller’s competence is current and relevant to the lifting gear in use. NPORS routes are widely accepted, but site policy varies—evidence of experience, logs and recent use go a long way to satisfy client requirements.
Expect ongoing tightening around lift planning and segregation, especially with 360‑slew telehandlers and heavier attachments where separate categories may apply. Keep an eye on competence drift: if you haven’t done suspended lifts for months, refresh with a toolbox talk, a supervised practice in the yard, or a short refresher before returning to live picks. The bottom line: right ticket in the seat, right ticket on the ground, a realistic plan, and the discipline to stop when conditions turn against you.
FAQ
# Do I always need both A17E and A40 for suspended loads?
/> For most site lifts, yes—you need an operator competent to handle a swinging load and a competent slinger/signaller to attach and direct it. Some simple, low-risk tasks may allow combined roles under a clear plan and close supervision, but many clients won’t accept that arrangement.
# How do assessors typically approach suspended loads on telehandler tests?
/> Assessors generally expect sound pre-use checks, understanding of capacity deration with boom extension, correct selection and inspection of lifting accessories, and clear communications. They look for controlled movements, maintaining stability, good observation, and safe set-down. The focus is on safe systems rather than tricks.
# What paperwork should be in place before lifting a suspended load?
/> Have a proportionate lift plan, a method statement or task briefing, and records showing the telehandler, attachments and lifting accessories are inspected and suitable. Keep pre-use check records and any site permits or authorisations required. Make sure the team is briefed and understands exclusion zones and signals.
# Can the telehandler operator sling the load themselves?
/> A telehandler operator may also hold a slinger/signaller qualification, but doing both jobs at once is rarely safe. You still need someone on the ground to manage the hitch, watch clearances, and control the exclusion zone. If a combined role is proposed, it must be justified in the plan and tightly controlled.
# When should training or tickets be refreshed for suspended loads?
/> Cards have expiry dates, and many sites expect refresher training well before competence fades—especially if you haven’t done suspended lifts recently. If you’ve had a layoff from the task, arrange a yard practice, a toolbox talk and a supervised lift to get back to standard. Supervisors should keep an eye out for competence drift and schedule refreshers accordingly.
