What Are the Key Components to a Safe Loading Dock?

Loading docks can be a difficult area for safety at facilities. A lot of movement and interaction with product happens in and around the loading dock, which brings a high level of focus and concern. Of the major safety concerns at a loading dock, premature trailer separation, trailer creep, poorly maintained equipment, and poor visibility are among the top causes for accidents. We work with companies to improve loading dock equipment (in Cleveland, OH) and are often asked what can be done to improve worker safety (and confidence).

To answer this question, we'll take a look at common high priority safety issues below and solutions to promote a safer work environment.

Problem: Premature Trailer Separation

Solution: This occurs when there is a lapse in communication between a driver and dock personnel, leading to the driver leaving the dock while workers are still loading or unloading the trailer. Combined with this are the situations that arise when a fork truck applies breaks inside the trailer, and the momentum of the fork lift moving forward causes the trailer to creep away from the dock. Both situations can be a serious hazard for personnel and can be avoided with a trailer restraint.

A trailer restraint acts as a way to keep a trailer secured to the building while loading or unloading and is only released once a dock worker presses the release button. This gives control to the worker most vulnerable in this situation.

Problem: Poorly Maintained Dock Equipment

Solution: Poorly maintained shipping dock equipment is a concern for reasons of inspection and operation. Routine inspections, known as preventive maintenance, allow you to stay informed on equipment history, areas of concern, structural integrity of equipment like dock levelers, and puts you on a schedule to be proactive and have predictability of what is coming down the road with your equipment. This keeps you ahead of safety issues and keeps your equipment operational, as well as avoids a risk of personnel using unsafe practices to bypass equipment failures.

Problem: Poor Loading Dock Visibility

Solution: This is a wide ranging section that includes lighting, obstructions of view, poor personnel communication, and related safety hazards. You can address visibility concerns with adding trailer dock lights for workers to see the materials they're moving and the environment they're moving through. For inside docks, guide lights and lasers help drivers identify the path of your dock bay. For workers driving fork lifts, communication is key to avoid collisions and identify their direction of travel, especially while reversing. This can be addresses with fork truck revering lights to highlight the fork lift's path. Communication is also addressed by adding signage that highlights processes or concerns specific to your dock. This includes "Pull Out on Green Only" signs for dock signal lights, equipment operating instructions, and more.