SAFETY TIPS FOR ORDER
PICKING AT HEIGHT
This talk discusses best practices for reducing fall
hazards for warehouse order pickers who work at
height.
Materials to have on hand:
• Example of order-picking equipment used at
your facility
• Example of fall protection used at your facility
Items for attendees to consider during the talk:
• What type of order-picking equipment do you
use?
• What type of fall protection is required?
TALK
Many companies have warehouse workers like you
to retrieve goods from the tops of pallet racks using
rolling warehouse ladders, lift trucks, wave pickers,
or other equipment. Though this task poses a fall
hazard, there are some best practices to follow to
help lessen the risk.
• Minimize the need to pick at height. Regularly
evaluate the frequency at which items are
picked, and store products that are frequently
picked in lower, more accessible positions. Not
only does this reduce the fall hazard, but it will
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Location: ________________________________________________
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Supervisor/
Presenter: ________________________________________________
also save you time because picking at a lower
position takes less time than one at height.
• Minimize the distance between you and the rack
to avoid tripping or falling into the gap and to
limit the length of any lanyard or reel line you
may be using.
• Always wear proper fall protection when picking
orders at height. The type of fall protection
required will vary depending on the equipment
you are using and can include railings, chains,
cables, body belts or harnesses with lanyards,
lifelines, or other deceleration devices. In
particular, the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, or OSHA, strongly encourages
the use of full-body harnesses with fixed-length
or retractable tethers on elevated platforms of
order picker lift trucks. Many lift trucks also have
additional safety restraints like railings and gates
that prevent you from exiting the platform while
elevated. Adjust any fall protection equipment
you use to fit properly.
• Make sure you know the load capacities and
stability requirements of any equipment you use
so that you don’t inadvertently overload it or
create unstable loads.
• Never pick from a stepladder or an extension
ladder because neither has sufficient working
platforms or safety guards.
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Attendees: ________________________________________________
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Comments: ________________________________________________
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SAFETY TIPS FOR ORDER PICKING AT HEIGHT
[Include the following bullets as they apply to
your facility.]
• When using a lift truck, elevate the work platform
only when actual order picking is in progress,
and never walk directly onto pallets attached
to the truck. Be on the lookout for overhead
obstructions, and avoid turning the lift truck while
the platform is elevated with a load, which could
cause a tipover.
• When using a rolling warehouse ladder to pick
items, make sure it has a large work platform and
guardrails. Never use it to pick heavy, bulky items
that can easily unbalance the ladder.
• If you are using a full-body harness with a
lanyard, limit its length. If you fall, this will prevent
you from being suspended below the platform
or within the racking and from swinging into
nearby objects, which could result in serious
injuries such as fractures, muscle strains, or a
concussion.
• If you are using personal fall protection
equipment while working on the platform of a lift
truck, always tie off at an anchorage attached
to an overhead member of the platform at a
point located above and near the center of the
platform. The anchorage point must be capable
of supporting at least 5,000 pounds for each
employee attached or be designed, installed, and
used under the supervision of a qualified person.
• If you are using a personal fall protection
system, inspect it before you use it for the first
time during each work shift for mildew, wear,
damage, and other deterioration, and remove any
defective components from service.
If you keep these important safety tips in mind while
picking orders at height, you can help reduce your
risk of falls and serious injuries and avoid costly days
away from the job.