They do not make the 6 o’clock news often, but accidents at the loading dock, like the recent death in Winston-Salem, happen when the proper safety equipment and protocols aren’t used and taken. Large, very heavy equipment is used in loading and unloading those trucks, however, by installing and maintaining the right safety equipment, you can prevent loading dock accidents at your facility.
The combination of heavy equipment and force can result in significant bodily harm and even death. No one wants that to happen – not the employee, and not the business owner. Every accident impacts health and well-being, hurts employee morale, and can result in expensive insurance claims or lawsuits.
How To Prevent Loading Dock Accidents
To prevent these types of accidents from occurring, Beuschel offers a number of safety products designed to eliminate the risk inherent in loading dock operations. These include:
Vehicle restraints – We sell several styles of restraint, from non-impact, the rotating-hook, the Hidden Hook, and the Talon, vehicle restraint styles all designed to reduce accidents. They all include dual-system internal/external LED-light communication systems.
Dock impact barriers – These manually operated barrier gates prevent accidents in a number of ways. They are highly visible, they can withstand the impact of a 10,000-pound forklift moving at four miles per hour, and they physically restrain employees from entering the dock space when it is unsafe. Not only do they protect people, they also protect equipment, door panels, and product.
Visual barriers – These easy-to-install-or-move barriers provide a visual reminder to warehouse and trucking staff that the certain areas require more attention to navigate.
Wheel chocks – Many accidents happen because employees fail or forget to correctly use truck brakes or those brakes fail. Using wheel chocks adds an extra layer of insurance in the prevention of dangerous and deadly trailer creep.
Dock lights – These are a number of dock lighting options that help increase safety in the trailer bed and on the loading dock. Investing in proper lighting not only protects the well-being of your employees, it also contributes to the smooth and reliable operation of your business.
If your business is concerned about increasing the safety of both employees and equipment, call us today to discuss which of the above products would be best to install or implement in your facility.