During a lift, the Load Moment Indicator (LMI) on a telehandler begins to alarm and show a warning message indicating an overload condition. The operator has a 2,500 kg pallet of bricks at a 5-metre reach, and the load chart indicates the maximum capacity at that reach is 2,000 kg. What immediate action should the operator take?

Question: During a lift, the Load Moment Indicator (LMI) on a telehandler begins to alarm and show a warning message indicating an overload condition. The operator has a 2,500 kg pallet of bricks at a 5-metre reach, and the load chart indicates the maximum capacity at that reach is 2,000 kg. What immediate action should the operator take?

Answer options:

• Continue the lift slowly, as the alarm might be a false positive. ✅ Lower the boom and retract it to reduce the load radius.
• Try to quickly move the telehandler closer to the landing zone.
• Bypass the LMI system to complete the lift.

Correct answer: Lower the boom and retract it to reduce the load radius.

Explanation: An LMI alarm signifies an unsafe condition, typically an overload. The immediate and safest action is to reduce the load moment by lowering and retracting the boom, thus decreasing the load radius and bringing the load within the machine's capacity. Continuing the lift or bypassing the LMI are extremely dangerous actions, and moving the machine while potentially unstable can worsen the situation.