Day 44..
Operating a telescopic handler on a farm yard - that was our practical session this morning! We met in the yard at Home Farm and Andy drove round the JCB telescopic handler - this machine is similar in appearance and function to a forklift but is more crane-like, with the increased versatility of a single telescopic boom that can extend forwards and upwards from the vehicle. We were each given instructions on how to start up and operate the machine and practiced going in-between cones - however, it was quite difficult to drive at first being an articulated vehicle - which means that it has two or more sections connected by a flexible joint - its quite bendy! The JCB was fitted with fork tines so we then had an introduction to handling and lifting and each collected two pallets from a stack and positioned them in another area. This is quite tricky as you need to make sure you are straight on approach to ensure both tines enter correctly and don't move the pallets by hitting the sides, top or bottom! then you need to carefully lift the pallets off before lowering the boom for transportation (remembering to stop and apply the handbrake before each task according to the forklift regulations) then when lowering your load off again apply the same straight and aligned approach. After this we were shown how to change the forks for a bucket - which is much easier to line up using the 'cone' like pins for guidance. Once attached you need to ensure the lock-in bolt is applied otherwise the bucket would fly off while in operating mode! Good introduction to driving a telescopic handler - lets hope I remember how to drive my car home!!!
This afternoons theory has been exchanged for tutorials as we are on a livestock trip tomorrow. So it was off to the library to work on assignments until called up for individual meetings with Dom.
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