Who this course is for
- Operators who run a telehandler on construction, mining or agricultural sites
- Yard and plant hire staff who place loads at height with a telescopic boom
- Crews who change between forks, buckets and jibs on the same machine
- Supervisors who have to appoint competent telehandler operators
What you will be able to do after this course
- Carry out pre-start and pre-use inspections on a telescopic boom handler
- Read the load chart and work out what the machine can lift at a given reach
- Pick up, travel with and place loads accurately, including at height
- Change attachments safely and park and shut the machine down correctly
What the course covers
The course works through the regulations that govern lifting machinery, then through the telehandler itself and the stability rules that make it safe to operate.
Learners cover machine components and controls, pre-start and pre-use inspections, load charts, reach and rated capacity, the effect of boom extension on stability, picking and placing loads, travelling with a load, stabiliser and outrigger use where fitted, changing attachments, and operating around people, structures and overhead services. The operating work is assessed practically on the machine.
How you are assessed and what you receive
Assessment covers a written knowledge test and a practical on the machine, where the learner inspects the telehandler, interprets the load chart, and picks, travels with and places a load under supervision. On successful completion the learner is certificated against SAQA unit standard 260781, and the certificate can be downloaded from the Fundza portal as well as issued directly.
What this certificate is worth
A telehandler is lifting machinery, which means the operator has to be competent in terms of the Driven Machinery Regulations and the employer has to be able to prove it. This is the certificate that is checked at site induction and by client auditors on construction and mining work. Learners can download the certificate from the Fundza portal whenever proof is asked for.
Duration, dates and fees
| Option | Duration | Fee | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full course | 5 Days | R6,010 | First-time certification |
| Refresher | 1 Day | R1,204 | Already certified, renewing |
On-site delivery at your own operation is available and is usually the better option for a crew, because the practical work is done on the machine and the attachments your own teams use. For group bookings, tell us how many people need certifying and where they are based.
Where and how the training runs
Training runs at the Fundza Training Institute centre in Mokopane, and on site at your own operation. On-site delivery is generally better for a crew, since the load charts and attachments differ between machines and the training is more useful on the one they operate. For a group booking, tell us how many people need certifying and where they are based, and we will come back with dates and a quotation.
Telehandler and forklift: how they differ
| Telescopic boom handler (this course) | Counter-balanced lift truck | |
|---|---|---|
| What it certifies | Telescopic boom machine with variable reach | Fixed-mast counterbalanced forklift |
| Unit standard | SAQA 260781 | SAQA 242974 |
| Where it is used | Construction, mining and agricultural sites | Warehouses, yards and factories |
| Key skill | Reading a load chart as reach changes | Load centre and stacking in racking |
The two machines look similar in what they do but behave very differently. Telehandler stability changes as the boom extends, which is why the load chart is the core of this course.
Where this course can take you
Telehandler operation sits inside the lifting and materials handling stack at Fundza. Operators commonly add Counter-balanced Lift Truck for warehouse work, or Mobile Elevated Platform Operator and Working at Heights where the job involves reaching height. Browse the full range of lifting machinery training.
Enquire about this course
Tell us how many people need certifying and where they are based, and we will come back with dates and a quotation.