by Trey Barber, on May 14, 2023 at 10:11 AM
Hundreds of thousands of accidents occur at loading docks each year, including fatal ones. Twenty-five percent of all industrial accidents occur at loading docks, and many of them are preventable.
When workers are focused on moving a load, they may not see a slick spot on the floor, a coworker passing by, or a trailer creeping away from the dock. That’s why safety barriers, vehicle restraints, clean floors and staff training are essential for every business with a loading dock.
4 Loading Dock Safety Essentials
The first two safety essentials are also good business practices. The first is, keep floors dry and clean.Trash, spills and cracked floors create a hazard for staff and equipment. Instruct staff to remove trash and wipe up liquids (including rain or melted snow) whenever they find it. Create a plan to regularly inspect floors for damage that could cause someone to stumble or trip and document each inspection.
Slips, trips, and falls are some of the most common causes of on-the-job injury and account for more than 25 percent of all workplace accidents each year. Many businesses choose to buy an industrial cleaning machine, which can quickly pay for itself in reduced labor costs and improved safety.
The second essential thing you need for safety and your bottom line, is proper training for forklift operators and other workers. We all know OSHA requires forklift operator training, but dock workers should also receive training on:
- proper lifting techniques
- loading dock safety
- working around forklifts
- safety procedures specific to your work environment.
Strong, visible barriers to prevent falls are our third safety essential. OSHA requires fall protection for elevations of four feet, but it’s in everyone’s best interest to have safety measures in place even if your dock is only 44”. A chain doesn’t get the job done. You need something that is both highly visible and able to withstand up to 200 lbs of horizontal pressure, such as a scissor gate or portable guardrail.
Using a dock lock, or other vehicle restraint is our fourth and final safety essential. Wheel chocks aren’t enough. Human error and poor communication (I thought the driver chocked their truck) causes hundreds of fatal accidents each year, especially from forklift fall-through. On a more positive note, you may be able to get a discount on your insurance by installing restraints.
Let us know if you have questions about loading dock safety or staff training. Our friendly, expert staff is happy to help.
Contact us online or by phone:
Auburn 253-854-5438
Pasco 509-547-7413
Wenatchee 509-663-9009
Yakima 509-457-5137
Further Reading:
Forklift Certification for Material Handling Equipment
How to Read a Forklift Load Capacity Chart
Industrial Floor Cleaning Equipment for Sale
