Self-preservation: Staying Safe in a Loading Dock

A loading dock is an environment in which severe or possibly fatal accidents could happen. The presence of heavy vehicles, forklifts and the loads they carry, and workers on foot in an area that is by definition busy could be a recipe for disaster. Need a working loading dock be the scene of an accident waiting to happen? Not if some simple rules, some involving essential equipment, are applied…

Let's begin with the truck. Getting it into place is the first requirement and for this, a banksman, a ‘reversing assistant', is needed. Of course, a reversing camera could handle the job but method notwithstanding, ensure that nobody goes between the truck's tail and the loading dock's seal, for obvious reasons.

Once the trailer is in place, it makes sense for it to stay put. Should the trailer remain hitched to a lorry cab unit, the worst that can happen is that the driver pulls away prematurely. Good communication will prevent this happening. However, if the trailer is freestanding, you need to keep it under control. Wheel chocks are a solution and it makes sense to use a stable trailer jack – the trailer's own nose gear may not be reliable. Then, take a look at the trailer's deck; rotten floorboards aren't unknown.

With the trailer standing ready, the dock levellers warrant attention. Can they support the weights to be handled? Are they at the right height? Are they secure? You need to know. Bear in mind with all the abovementioned factors that laden or unladen forklifts impose considerable loads and not just in terms of weight. Acceleration and braking forces can easily cause an insecure trailer to move unexpectedly. The speed of the forklift(s) involved and the trailer's suspension are factors in this equation and trailer creep also affects dock levellers.

Now for the forklifts themselves. The use of safety barriers to protect unguarded drops is obvious, as is the use of raves. Less obvious is the need for forklift drivers to see what they're doing. Poor lighting aboard the trailer and around the loading area represents false economy…think ‘dangerous' if you can't see how this will slow the work. Moreover, where larger loads are involved, clear lines of sight are crucial. Use mirrors if necessary and rely on human assistance where applicable.

Just as on the roads, good traffic management applies to loading and unloading. A congested staging area is necessarily inefficient at best. At worst it's dangerous so it's wise to have a traffic system. Traffic cones, signs and marking tape denoting inbound, outbound and no-go areas will pay dividends very quickly. Similarly, ensuring that all personnel, pedestrians included, know what the markings mean could save more than just time. Once again as in traffic, congestion is a major potential problem. A system of storing empty pallets and containers away from the loading area, at a sensible stack height, contributes both to safety and speed of operation.

There are safety factors specifically for the workers on foot, the pedestrians. The traffic system mentioned makes a good starting point but pedestrians also need guard rails and proper, secure ladders for safe movement. They also need a clean working environment, so make sure that debris is cleared frequently.

These are by no means all the rules but there's one simple, overarching practice that must be followed…for safety's sake. This is, in a word, application. All the safety equipment and training in the world are worthless if they aren't present and used correctly.

Chase Equipment are a leading international supplier of loading bay equipment. See our website at Chase Equipment for more information.