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What is an Order Picker Lift Truck?

Updated: Dec 6, 2019

An Order Picker Truck is a Lift Truck – Class II – It has the operator riding in a cage welded to the fork carriage, while wearing a specially designed safety harness to prevent falls while elevating.  A special toothed grab holds the pallet to the forks. The operator hand transfers the load onto the pallet one article at a time.

2 TYPES OF ORDER PICKERS:


Low Level Order Pickers, for first and second levels – They are ideal for use in high capacity warehouses where horizontal transport is needed over short and long distances.


Medium and High Level Order Pickers are designed for second and third level picking of up to 4.8m. They include features such as fixed forks, fixed cabins and a walk on platform or cage with safety barriers and protective cage. The Medium to High Level Order Picker Lift Truck is equipped with a rising operator station is designed for the manual preparation of orders at heights, generally from the pallet racks and shelves. This type of lift truck can operate in very narrow aisles of less than 1.8 m (6 ft), and is not normally designed for man-oeuvres on slopes. The operator’s station can reach lift heights of 12 m (40 ft), or even higher, for order picking and stock replenishment.


THE OPERATOR’S PLATFORM:

This is the platform on which the operator stands to drive the lift truck (operator’s station), from which he/she performs order picking.


The Operator’s Platform MUST:


  1. Include an overhead guard

  2. Be covered with a non-slip surface

  3. Be protected by one or more side guards that are easily raised and folded if the operator is exposed to a risk of falling during order picking.


The wood pallet on which the articles are placed MUST:

  1. Be in good condition

  2. Be used only for placing the merchandise, – be solidly held by a clamp.

  3. The operator should not move around on the pallet.

THE ADDITIONAL PLATFORM:

Not intended for lifting people. The additional platform is an Order Picking platform that is installed or removed without having to dismantle part of the hoist system. Its dimensions may vary. The platform is generally made of non-slip metal and has two openings for inserting the forks of the lift truck to lift it. It is locked or otherwise permanently attached to the lift truck. It is heavier and its load centre is farther away than that of a standard wood pallet. As a result, the lift truck’s load capacity will be reduced by as much as 50%. An order picking truck must be equipped with a second capacity plate indicating the reduced load capacities when an additional platform is used.


GENERAL RULES:

  1. Ensure that the order picking truck has a second capacity plate that takes into consideration the weight of the additional platform.

  2. Train the operator in the interpretation of the capacity plates on the lift truck, different additional platforms, and safe operating procedures.

  3. Fall Protection Procedures (wearing of the mandatory safety harness).

  4. When pedestrians are present, station off the work area of the order picking truck.

  5. Travel on ground free of debris. – Initiate a turn only when the operator’s station is lowered.

  6. Implement measures for complying with the maximum permitted load capacities at all times, since sudden braking and changes in direction can result in off-centering of the load and even in overturning of the fork lift truck.

  7. Ensure that no pallet or merchandise extends excessively over the edge of the pallet rack, thus hindering upward and downward movements.

  8. Verify that the design of the additional platform prevents the risk of falls: for example, presence of guardrails on the open sides.

  9. Articles must never rest on the guardrails, unless they are designed for this purpose.


Forklift Training Scarborough / Toronto – 416-321-9675

Forklift Training Mississauga / Brampton – 905-629-9679

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