If you're responsible for a loading dock, you need to ensure the safety of all your employees as well as drivers who arrive throughout the day. It's not enough to provide proper training, although that is crucial for workplace safety. In addition to adequate training, there are other steps you need to implement if you want to ensure the safety of those who will be on the loading dock. Here are four important safety steps you should implement as soon as possible.
Maintain Clean Dock Floors
If you're responsible for loading dock safety, it's crucial that start with the basics: proper sanitation. Dirt, debris, and spills are all contributing factors to many loading dock accidents. To reduce the occurrence of loading dock accidents, it's important that you maintain a clean and spill-free work area at all times.
Control the Flow of Traffic
If your loading dock is like most, it sees a steady stream of traffic. Unfortunately, the busier your loading dock is, the more likely it is that someone will be involved in an accident. The best way to avoid those accidents is to control the flow of traffic. To do that, you can implement a traffic light system on your loading dock, putting red and green traffic lights into action. Red lights will let your drivers and your forklift operators know that they need to stop until further notice. Green lights will let them know that it's safe for them to proceed.
Identify the Gaps in Safety
When it comes to loading docks, unprotected gaps can play a big role in serious accidents, especially the gaps between the loading dock and the back end of the trailers. To avoid serious accidents, you need to identify the gaps in your safety plan and take steps to close those gaps. To do that, you'll need to utilize dock levelers, dock boards, and dock plates. Those devices prevent injuries from falls when gaps are left unprotected. It's also important that you install dock lights and safety railings to prevent falls. These items can be ordered on websites such as http://www.commercialhardwaregroup.com.
Ensure Adequate Ventilation
When it comes to loading dock safety, you've got to be concerned about carbon monoxide poisoning, especially with all the trucks that pass through the area. One way to keep your crew safe from carbon monoxide poisoning is to ensure adequate ventilation. You should also install an industrial filtration system to help keep the air in the loading dock as safe as possible.
