SAFETY ON THE DOCK

Your warehouse is adequately protected and in good order. The next area that we will look at in regard to safety is the dock. The loading dock is an essential part of your business with a lot of activity occurring there. Materials may be delivered or loaded for transport. Numerous forklift operators and pedestrians may be present at any given time to get these tasks completed. With all this activity, it’s not a surprise that twenty-five percent of industrial accidents occur on loading docks. This equates to hundreds of thousands of incidents and numerous fatalities. So, let’s look at ways to reduce the chance of an incident or accident on the dock.

Pedestrians are an area of concern when working on the loading dock. Truck drivers will likely be present. Keep in mind that these drivers do not know your operations and traffic areas/patterns. Forklift operators need to be diligent to watch out for pedestrians, make eye contact with them, and always give the right of way. Entering vans can be especially dangerous due to lighting changes when entering the van. Forklift operators should slow down and watch for drivers that may be present in a van. If possible, limit areas where truck drivers are allowed to access.

Housekeeping is another important issue on the dock. Spills, banding, and pieces of pallets should be cleaned up promptly.  According to OSHA, slips, trips, and falls are the most common type of industrial accident. For this reason, keep the dock clean and organized. If feasible, keep a stocked spill kit in an area adjacent to the dock.

Loading/unloading trailers can also present a significant hazard. Trailers should be inspected before being entered with a forklift. Any debris on the floor of the trailer (banding, broken pallets, etc.) should be removed. Instruct drivers not to drive over these materials. The actual bed of the trailer should also be inspected. If decking is missing or the truck bed feels weak underfoot do not load the trailer. A forklift weighs in excess of eight thousand pounds, so if the bed feels weak, there is a good chance a forklift may fall through.

Trucks should be chocked or secured to the dock when being accessed. “Trailer creep” can occur if the trailer is not chocked or secured. In this type of incident, a forklift can either get wedged between the truck and the dock or fall from the dock. These types of incidents can result in significant injuries and property damage.

Finally, docks present a fall hazard. Annually, about six thousand forklift operators drive off a dock. Guardrails should be present and the dock should be marked to identify where the dock ends. The marked areas should be in a bright color (safety yellow). If a forklift operator does drive off a dock, they should be trained on what to do to prevent an injury and to never jump out of a forklift. If they jump, the lift could land on top of them, resulting in a serious injury.

The dock is an area of activity with lots of potential for injuries/accidents. Following the above-noted points will help reduce this potential and keep your employees safe.

Request More Information

To contact your local W. R. MEADOWS representative or for general correspondence, please click here. If you need immediate assistance, please call (800) 342-5976. Thank you!

 

 

Podcast

W. R. MEADOWS’ VP Dave Carey gives an in-depth look at VOC rules and regulations. Dave has over 30 years in the industry, and oversees all of the legal requirements facing W. R. MEADOWS. For more information about products and standards, click here: https://www.wrmeadows.com/standards-approvals

More on the W. R. Meadows Podcast