If you run a loading dock, you can't afford to take chances where safety is concerned. Issues with loading dock safety can increase your risk of serious accidents and injuries. To help ensure the safety of your crew, here are four pieces of equipment you need to install on your loading dock.
Utilize Dock Barriers
When it comes to loading dock safety, the most important thing you can do is utilize dock barriers. Falls from loading docks can have serious consequences. Unfortunately, without the proper barriers, you can't provide adequate protection against falls. Safety gates help close the gap between the dock entrance and the floor, which can help prevent accidents, especially those involving forklifts. Once a forklift comes in contact with the uneven surface, it will tip over, causing injuries to the driver. Scissor gates should also be installed across the opening of the dock. The scissor gates prevent people from coming to close to the edge of the dock and falling to the ground below.
Insist on a Dock Leveler
If you don't have a dock leveler installed on your docks, you need to invest in those right away. When trailers back up to the dock, they aren't always level with the floor. Unfortunately, that can pose a risk for all involved. The dock leveler provides a level surface between the back of the trailer and the entrance to the dock. Once you have your leveler in place, you should inspect it at least once a month to ensure proper operation.
Inspect Your Truck Restraints
When you've got trailers backed up to the loading docks, you need to make sure that they don't roll away. Trailers tend to slowly creep a little bit further from the docks throughout the loading and unloading process. One way to stop the movement is to make sure that the trailers are properly restrained. You may think that your wheel chocks are sufficient for holding the trucks in place. However, that's simply not the case. For maximum protection, your docks should be equipped with industrial truck restraints, and they should be used each time a trailer is loaded or unloaded.
Have Dock Seals and Shelters in Place
If you don't have adequate dock seals and shelters in place, you should make those safety adjustments as soon as possible. Wet loading docks pose a serious safety risk for your crew. Dock seals and shelters help keep water away from your loading docks, which reduces the risk of slip and fall accidents.
Visit a website like http://www.commercialhardwaregroup.com to learn more about dock equipment services that you might be able to make use of.
