Tag: dock safety

Dock Damage: Causes and Remedies

Loading docks are dangerous places if they’re not managed properly. Dock damage can occur in an instant and can all but force operations to cease, but it can be prevented. A trailer mover from DJ Products affords a means to streamline your process and avoid hazards that lead to damage to your facility.

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Mistakes at the loading dock can lead to all sorts of damage and problems, such as:

  • Damaged trailers
  • Broken equipment
  • Building damage
  • Ruined goods
  • Injuries
  • Deaths

According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, there are 85 forklift-related fatalities each year, and 34,900 people are seriously injured by one every year—42% of fatalities are due to crush injuries from tipping vehicles.1 Falling cargo and freight is another hazard that causes many injuries.

Causes of Dock Damage

The leading causes of dock-related damage and injuries include:

  • Equipment: Improper use of forklifts, pallet jacks, and other equipment often leads to damage. Crews may be in a hurry or not have the proper experience and training. Forklifts are notoriously unstable under heavy loads and moving too quickly can cause a trailer to be rammed into something or dropped. The damage may be immediately evident or repeated abuse may take a toll over time.
  • Handling: Equipment drivers are often under pressure to get the job done. Working too quickly can have dangerous consequences even if a worker is well-trained. Equipment operators must always use good judgment to ensure the safety of people and their facility. Accidents may also be caused by operating the wrong equipment for the items being handled.
  • Communication: Even with loads properly restrained and the proper equipment used, all hands must communicate to ensure they’re on the same page. Light signals help but are not enough. You need verbal and physical communication to guide vehicles and loads, as well as warn of potential safety issues.

How to Remedy Dock Damage

Attention to safety and communication and using the right equipment can avoid problems at the loading dock. The equipment you use can also make a big difference when it comes to protecting your workers and facility. For example, a trailer caddy from DJ Products is highly maneuverable and available in models that can transport up to 100,000 pounds. Such an electric trailer mover can handle semi-trailers, ocean shipping containers, and other large objects.

The Yard Dog is a TrailerCaddy Terminal Tractor that can move heavy loads, and which is battery operated. Like other electric trailer caddy models, it can be charged up and is ready to go at any time. It also provides forward facing operation. The operator can, therefore, precisely control the machine and has an unobstructed view, improving safety. Speed control also reduces the risk of dock damage.

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A TrailerCaddy requires no training to operate. You easily can get your employees up to speed on properly using the equipment. There’s no need to depend on outside trailer-moving services either, which can create issues caused by unreliable, untimely contractors.

To reduce your chances of dock damage, order a trailer mover from DJ Products or give us a call today.

Source:

 https://ohsonline.com/Articles/2013/09/01/Death-by-Forklift-is-Really-the-PITs.aspx

Warehouse Dock Maintenance Tips

Warehouse Dock Maintenance Tips
Warehouse Dock Maintenance Tips

Do your operations grind to a halt whenever a dock suddenly needs critical maintenance? Many dock problems can be prevented with more proactive care, cutting down greatly on the overall costs of your warehousing and logistics facilities, says Modern Materials Handling.

Gary Forger reports that insufficient maintenance accounts for up to 85% of all dock equipment problems. Planned maintenance can prevent much of that while also reducing the frequency of emergency repairs.

Options for Planned Dock Maintenance

Warehousing and logistics managers have multiple options for better planned maintenance:

• Add or appoint an in-house employee

• Partner with dock equipment suppliers to advise in-house staff

• Outsource to a structured dock maintenance program

Tips for Warehouse Dock Maintenance

The first step is to determine how often various components need recommended inspections and maintenance. Some parts need annual care, others should be maintained every 90 days.

In addition to checking for broken or worn-out parts, workers should test for energy leaks that may be costing a fortune.

Keep hydraulics working efficiently with proper fluid levels and lubricate moving parts regularly to prevent small wear-and-tear from becoming major damage or causing a shutdown.

Finally, consider how dock maintenance can improve worker safety. Dock-related injuries are common, resulting in good workers missing days and leading to claims.

On that note, DJ Products has industrial cart movers for the warehousing and logistics industry that can significantly improve your bottom line—through reduced injury risk as well as better productivity. We also have a line of trailer movers for improved safety around dock doors.

Contact DJ Products for more info about material handling solutions for warehousing and logistics.

Five Important Dock Safety Tips

Warehouse safety begins at the receiving and shipping docks. Safe dock procedures set the stage for the safe unloading, handling and storage of materials as well as the packing, loading and shipping of product. Identifying and addressing ergonomic challenges on the dock can directly impact worker safety and dock productivity. “You have to look at everything from what kind of trailer you’re going to receive, to whether the load is floor-loaded or unitized to what happens to it after it comes off the truck. Even the temperature inside the facility and the weather are important,” explained Brent Tymensky, VP of design engineering for Fortna Inc.

Dock safety begins with attention to five important issues:

  • Trailer access. The length, width, height and suspension system of a trailer generally determine the dock equipment needed. Other considerations include whether the trailer is dry or refrigerated and whether the load is unitized and fully cubed.
  • Dock conditions. Temperature and weather impact dock worker safety and efficiency. A canopy that keeps out cold, heat, wind, rain and snow improves working conditions and worker comfort. Air-inflatable dock seals can form a tight barrier around a trailer, keeping out the weather and reducing energy costs.
  • Personnel issues. The age, experience and physical condition of your workforce are factors that determine how and when automated and manual equipment are used. Adjustable conveyors that reach into a trailer can assist with manual unloading and loading procedures, reducing the physical strain on workers. While some palletized loads can be off-loaded as is, many pallet loads must be broken down manually into their components for use or proper storage. Adjustable carts and tuggers can make this work both easier and safer for dock workers.
  • Dock safety equipment. Vehicle restraint devices prevent trailers from exiting prematurely while workers are still on the trailer. Restraint devices range from simple wheel chucks to automated systems that bolt into the cement dock and attach to the trailer’s rear guard. A newly marketed interlocking device attaches to the trailer brake emergency airline to prevent the trailer from moving until the dock ramp is removed and the dock door closed.
  • Productivity and efficiency. Dock levelers, extendable conveyors and palletizing equipment all increase efficiency in retrieving and loading materials and goods. Trailer drop can significantly hinder the transition from the trailer to the dock. Levelers and vehicle restraints that support the rear of the trailer can eliminate trailer drop as equipment is moved into the trailer for loading or unloading.