Increase Safety Around Loading Docks: Everything in a Nutshell

Loading dock areas are fast-paced and unpredictable, which makes the areas prone to danger. Facility managers, therefore, have to make sincere efforts to ensure a safe environment in such areas. A safe environment in the loading dock areas will also lead to other simultaneous benefits.

Efficiency in such workplaces will increase when workers can work without fearing any unforeseen danger or malfunctions. So, it makes sense to invest in proper equipment that makes space safe, boosting productivity and efficiency.

If you are a facility manager and is concerned about the safety in the loading dock area, you can increase safety in the following ways:

Incorporating Truck Restraints

A truck restraint is an essential piece of equipment to increase safety in such areas. It holds a truck in place during loading and unloading. The equipment creates a highly secure connection between a truck and a dock leveler. Holding an approaching truck’s rear-impact guard (RIG) or ICC bar, the restraints increases safety and efficiency. Many restraint models also come with a light communication system that enables the truck driver to interact with dock attendants and stabilize and immobilize a truck completely to prevent accidents.

Installing Dock Seals

Loading dock areas are prone to external elements that are disturbing in nature, such as snow, rain, winds, etc. Facility managers should block gaps around loading dock doors to prevent unwanted things from entering the dock areas. These elements make the working areas uncomfortable and slippery, making the working area dangerous. For example, a wet floor can result in slips or falls, leading to injuries of the staff.

To avoid such unwanted eventualities, investing in an adjustable curtain dock seal can protect the loading dock area by blocking the unwanted elements from entering the facility through gaps.

Dock seals also bear the facility of accommodating different trailer sizes. In addition to making the area safe, dock seals also improve energy efficiency by confining the internally generated warm air and keeping cold air outside. If your facility is insulated from external conditions, energy usage will become more efficient.

Using High-Speed Overhead Doors

Shielding the dock area workers from the unwanted external elements is a crucial safety aspect for facility managers. It makes loading dock areas not only safe but also comfortable. A practical way of doing so is reducing the time of overhead doors remaining open. And high-speed overhead doors are the best solution.

Ideally, such doors can shorten a door’s cycle time from 56 seconds to 5.6 seconds. Although the difference in time can appear to be small, it becomes significant when you consider the number of times the facility doors open and close in a working day. Such doors typically can close up to 2-3 times faster than the low-speed doors. Besides, the low-speed doors lose considerable energy while closing. The decreased door cycle time helps protect the staff from cold weather during winters and prevents any accident that might result.

Loading Dock Levellers

Loading dock workers find it comfortable to work when there is a firm connection between the loading dock and the truck. Dock levelers act as a secure connection between the truck and the bay. And the connection ensures that the loading and unloading process is safe and smooth, without any danger to the workers.

Dock levelers come in two types--mechanical and hydraulic dock levelers. Both types provide balanced support and stability during dock operations. While the hydraulic type operates with a single push-button control, the mechanical leveler utilizes a simple release chain. Despite the difference in the process, both the dock leveler types provide safety and operational benefits for loading dock areas. The dock levelers enable seamless dock operation and contain welded U-beam channels at critical impact points, providing support and stability. And the result of the investment is that efficiency and safety increase in the loading dock area.

Conclusion

Safety is of utmost concern in a loading dock facility. If the right safety equipment is missing from loading dock areas, accidents, and injuries are bound to happen. Facility managers can make the facilities safe by following the tips outlined in this article.