There is nothing that provides a better return than the investment you make in safety. Loading dock environments may be dangerous work areas and need safety features to protect workers and your business. Many of these features in the loading dock safety are vehicle restraints, lights, or wheel chocks, which keep trucks, forklifts, and other vehicles in place while cargo moves back and forth.
You and your employees need to learn several things to ensure the safety of yourself and your fellow workers. Safety Products include Vehicle Restraints to securely hold a truck to the dock during loading, wheel chocks, light communication between the truck driver and dock personnel, and safety barriers on an open dock.
Dock Safety
It is essential to verify the automatic vehicle restraints or wheel chocks when trailers are set to unload or load. These safety systems prevent the trailer from separating from the dock. Additionally, the automatic restraints clasp into the rear impact guard. They also give you additional security, as the door locks hold the truck and trailer against the building. If you use a dock plate, check it before using it and ensure it can safely and efficiently support the load.
Vehicle Restraints
Vehicle restraints are a vital part of a loading dock safety system. Their primary duty is to lock trailers into position at the loading dock when loading and unloading. This prevents the truck from pulling out too soon or rolling out of place.
They also help close the gap between the vehicle and the dock, a safety hazard that employees can fall through. Besides safety, restraints can reduce the chance of stolen trucks.
Types of Vehicle Restraints
Hydraulic Vehicle Restraints use hydraulic cylinders to power the unit. An internal automatic pressure switch keeps the arm of the restraint in a locked position while in operation. Dock attendants use a control panel to operate the arm.
Electric Vehicle Restraints use an electro-mechanical hook. This configuration also uses touch controls to engage and disengage the arm. Hooks are often more helpful for vehicles with damaged or bent rearguards.
Mechanical vehicle restraints are the most economical and are manually operated by dock employees. For efficiency and ease of operation, they don’t require any power.
Wheel Chocks
Wheel chocks are another great way to stabilize vehicles and another option for safety equipment. Shaped like a pyramid, it stops the truck while operators load objects on and off the trailer.
Yet, wheel chocks don’t work if they are smashed, cracked, broken, or missing pieces. Regularly inspect your facility’s wheel chocks and replace them when needed.
The use of Barriers to Prevent Falls
Loading docks are four feet above the ground, allowing your dock equipment to run more efficiently when loading or unloading. Also, opening the loading dock provides sunlight, ventilation, and easy traffic.
Consider adding a loading dock safety barrier. They are cost-effective yet essential investments that can help prevent accidents, injuries, and damage to products or equipment.
Lights
Increase safety at the loading dock with dock lights that provide energy-efficient illumination inside the trailer. Movable arms have a 40″ reach and position the lights as needed or completely out of the way.
These lights’ rugged polycarbonate housing and electric components are designed to withstand impacts and the rigors of the loading dock—choice of the sturdy dual or single arm for vertical and horizontal adjustability. Add a fan to help keep workers comfortable when it’s warm.
8 Tips for Loading Dock Safety
Mark floors with tape to identify where walking is off-limits. A common hazard at loading docks is employees being hit by forklifts or other heavy machinery. Marking on the floor where walking is safe will prevent unwanted injury.
Use visual dock communication. Traditional red/green light signals alert trucks to enter and when it is necessary to stop. This is an effective way to communicate with drivers at the loading dock and ensure no accidents occur.
Use locking devices on every truck that comes to the loading dock. Using a locking device on trucks ensures that the trailer will not separate from the dock accidentally. People are likely to fall off the dock when separation occurs, and injury can happen.
Clean area regularly. As mentioned above, a common hazard is slipping or tripping due to weather, spillage, or debris left on the floor. Cleaning the area on a regular schedule will decrease the amount of slips, trips, and falls.
Put padding on the edges of sharp corners on the loading dock. When moving product from the truck into the facility, it is possible to run into uncovered sharp edges and cause injury. Place protective padding on edges and corners to easily prevent this.
Secure loose products. Before moving the product to or from the truck, ensure the product is secure. Smaller products can fall off and cause tripping; if more oversized products are unsafe, they can injure employees when lifting.
Require that all workers are well-informed and follow loading dock safety rules. To ensure all employees are aware of risks, hazards, and best practices, they must take a short course where they learn the appropriate protocols and guidelines for working on a loading dock.
OSHA-trained and authorized employees are the only people who can operate heavy machinery. This not only makes sure everybody is safe but also abides by the law.
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