Vertical Stock Picker Training
GH Training provides practical vertical stock picker training for warehouse, logistics, retail and distribution employees.
Courses are delivered at customer premises using the equipment and storage environment operators will encounter at work. Training includes relevant theory, practical instruction and operator assessment.
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What Is a Vertical Stock Picker?
A vertical stock picker is a mobile warehouse machine that raises the operator to retrieve or place goods at different storage levels.
Depending on the manufacturer and model, the equipment may also be described as:
- Elevated order-picking truck
- High-level order picker
- Medium-level order picker
- Man-up order picker
- Work-assist vehicle
- Vertical order-picking equipment
The operator platform, controls, lifting height and load-handling arrangement vary between machines. Training must therefore reflect the actual equipment being used.
Who Should Attend?
Training may be suitable for:
- Warehouse order pickers
- Distribution-centre employees
- Retail stockroom staff
- Parts and component pickers
- Engineering stores personnel
- New operators
- Experienced users without formal training
- Trained operators changing equipment
- Previously trained operators requiring reassessment
Candidates must be medically fit for the work and able to understand the course instruction.
Course Options
Novice Training
For employees without previous formal training or practical experience on the relevant stock picker.
Experienced-Operator Training
For suitable candidates with genuine practical experience but no recognised evidence of formal training.
Conversion Training
For trained operators moving from another equipment category or significantly different type of order picker.
Refresher Training
For previously trained operators requiring reassessment or updated instruction.
Familiarisation
For trained operators moving to an unfamiliar model, warehouse layout, picking height or company procedure.
Course duration depends on the equipment, operator experience, learner numbers and workplace conditions.
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What Does Vertical Stock Picker Training Cover?
Operator Responsibilities
Candidates learn about:
- Following manufacturer instructions
- Workplace authorisation
- Safe systems of work
- Site rules
- Pedestrian awareness
- Defect reporting
- Preventing unauthorised use
- Working at height responsibilities
Pre-Use Inspection
Checks may include:
- Wheels and tyres
- Forks, load deck or carrying platform
- Operator platform
- Access gates and guardrails
- Controls and emergency stops
- Steering and braking
- Mast and lifting components
- Hydraulic systems
- Warning devices
- Safety and limiting systems
- Battery and charging connections
- Rated capacity and information plates
Defects affecting safe use must be reported and addressed before operation.
Controls and Manoeuvring
Practical training may cover:
- Starting and stopping
- Steering characteristics
- Forward and reverse travel
- Braking and speed control
- Observation
- Manoeuvring within aisles
- Judging clearances
- Positioning at picking locations
- Safe parking and isolation
Raising the Operator Platform
Candidates learn how to:
- Confirm sufficient overhead clearance
- Position the truck correctly
- Use platform controls
- Raise and lower smoothly
- Observe equipment limits
- Maintain safe body position
- Avoid leaning or climbing
- Keep gates and protective devices correctly secured
- Respond to warning systems
Picking and Placing Goods
Practical exercises can include:
- Assessing item weight and dimensions
- Maintaining platform capacity limits
- Distributing goods safely
- Avoiding unstable stacks
- Retrieving items without overreaching
- Securing loose materials
- Maintaining visibility
- Depositing goods at the correct level
Elevated Travel
Some vertical stock pickers are designed to travel with the operator platform elevated; others have restrictions determined by their design and manufacturer.
Training should address:
- Whether elevated travel is permitted
- Speed restrictions
- Aisle width
- Floor condition
- Overhead obstructions
- Racking clearances
- Pedestrian controls
- Visibility
- Manufacturer limitations
Operators must not assume that techniques permitted on one model apply to another.
Gates and Platform Protection
Access gates, guardrails and interlocks are safety devices and must not be defeated, tied open or bypassed.
Operators should understand:
- Correct entry and exit
- Gate-closing requirements
- Interlock operation
- Safe standing position
- Prohibition on climbing the guardrails
- Keeping body parts within the platform
- Action to take when a safety device is defective
The platform should only be entered and exited at an appropriate lowered position unless the manufacturer has provided another safe procedure.
Fall-Protection Requirements
Harness or restraint requirements vary according to equipment design, manufacturer instructions and workplace risk assessment.
The employer should determine:
- Whether personal fall protection is required
- The correct equipment and attachment point
- Inspection requirements
- Compatibility with the stock picker
- How the system should be adjusted and used
- What happens during an emergency
Where fall-protection equipment is required, employees need appropriate instruction in its use.
View Working at Height Awareness Training
Warehouse Hazards
Training should reflect conditions such as:
- Narrow aisles
- Pedestrians and other trucks
- Racking damage
- Overhead beams and services
- Sprinkler systems
- Uneven or damaged floors
- Blind intersections
- Loading areas
- Shrink wrap and loose packaging
- Poorly positioned stock
- Cold stores or low-temperature environments
- Restricted lighting
Operator training must be supported by suitable workplace controls and traffic management.
Emergency Lowering and Recovery
Employers should plan how an elevated operator will be recovered if normal controls fail.
Arrangements should consider:
- Ground-level emergency controls
- Loss of power
- Machine malfunction
- Operator illness or injury
- Entrapment
- Communication
- Access for the nominated person
- Preventing unauthorised interference
- Manufacturer recovery instructions
Relevant ground personnel should know how to operate the emergency-lowering system safely.
Battery Charging
Where battery charging forms part of the operator’s duties, training may address:
- Designated charging areas
- Isolation procedure
- Cable and connector condition
- Ventilation
- Ignition sources
- Battery condition
- Required personal protective equipment
- Reporting damage or leakage
Operators should only undertake battery-related tasks for which they have received appropriate instruction.
Equipment Suitability and Employer Duties
Under PUWER, employers must ensure work equipment is suitable, maintained safely and used only by people who have received adequate information, instruction and training. Suitable protective devices, controls and warning systems must also be provided. HSE PUWER overview
Training does not replace the need to:
- Select suitable equipment
- Maintain and inspect it
- Manage workplace traffic
- Control access to picking areas
- Keep floors and aisles in suitable condition
- Plan elevated work
- Provide appropriate supervision
On-Site Training Requirements
The customer will normally need to provide:
- A safe and serviceable vertical stock picker
- Manufacturer operating instructions
- Inspection and examination information
- A controlled practical area
- Suitable racking or picking locations
- Representative goods
- Appropriate personal protective equipment
- Required fall-protection equipment
- Space to practise emergency procedures
GH Training will confirm the requirements before the course.
Assessment and Authorisation
Candidates complete the relevant theory and practical assessments.
Successful operators receive suitable evidence of training for the equipment assessed. Employers remain responsible for:
- Specific job instruction
- Machine and workplace familiarisation
- Confirming permitted picking heights and duties
- Formal workplace authorisation
- Ongoing monitoring
- Further training when required
Related Training
Businesses using elevated order-picking equipment may also require:
- Pedestrian Pallet Truck Training
- Reach Truck Training
- MEWP Training
- Working at Height Awareness
- Managing and Supervising MHE
Areas Covered
GH Training delivers on-site courses across:
Arrange Vertical Stock Picker Training
When requesting a quotation, tell us:
- Equipment manufacturer and model
- Maximum platform height
- Number of candidates
- Their previous experience
- Typical picking tasks
- Whether elevated travel is used
- Workplace location
- Preferred dates
GH Training will review the information and recommend the appropriate course.
Call 01925 500796