Loading Dock Leveler Safety Tips & Procedures

Before attempting any repair on a dock leveler, please read the following outline. Never allow the service of a dock leveler without using the proper safety equipment. 

Loading dock levelers (sometimes referred to as dock plates or dock boards) are a central point of activity in warehouses and manufacturing facilities. In most companies, this is the primary location of movement of product coming into and moving out of a facility. A loading dock is typically a recessed pit in a facility where trucks are loaded and unloaded. They are commonly found in manufacturing plants, warehouses, and other large industrial buildings. Loading docks may be exterior, flush with the building envelope or fully enclosed. Part of a facility's service or utility infrastructure, loading docks typically provide direct access to staging areas, storage rooms, and freight elevators. When looking at the different operations taking place in a warehouse, distribution center or other unloading operation, loading dock environments can be one of the more hazardous areas.

The OSHA regulation specific to loading dock safety is found in OSHA 29 CFR 1910.176 material handling. The majority of all regulations for the loading dock environment are directed to the operation and design of forklifts used on loading docks. Forklift safety regulations are referenced in the general industry standard, 29 CFR 1910.178 and construction standard 29 CFR 1926.600; 1926.602 and Part II, ANSI B56.1-1969 "American National Standard for Powered Industrial Trucks". To ensure a safe loading dock environment, safe operation of forklifts must be maintained. Forklift operators are required to be trained as operators to help in this effort. See Quick Tips #106: Forklift Operator Training for those requirements. OSHA regulations for machine guarding found in OSHA 29 CFR 1910.211 should also be applied. Other standards that can apply to loading dock safety are slips, trips and falls, which can be found in OSHA 29 CFR 1910.22 walking-working surfaces and the ANSI A1264.2-2006 provision for the slip resistance on walking/working surfaces.

Loading docks have an increased potential for serious injury; the following are just a few hazards that present themselves on and around loading dock areas.

Forklifts overturning
Employees being hit by forklifts and other powered trucks
Slips, trips, and falls
Trailer creep
Unsecured loads
Debris on floor
Chemical splash
Material handling injuries (lifting)
Unguarded machinery
Making Your Dock Safe

Ensuring loading dock safety in your workplace can be a challenge. To maintain safety, a checklist can be used to assure a safe loading dock area.

Make sure all personnel are trained in dock safety and that rules are enforced.

Ensure that wheel chocks are used on every vehicle at your dock.

Protect pedestrians traveling through the facility by ensuring that operators of powered industrial trucks are trained to yield the right of way.

Mark floors with yellow tape or paint to identify walkway barriers, doorways, parking aisles and overhead obstacles.

Protect people traveling through your facility from sharp corners. Place padding or guards around exposed edges.

Put an inspection program in place to review palletized materials. If pallets are defective, the product should be moved to a safe pallet.

Review warehouse ergonomics. Adjust the height of conveyors to eliminate lower back stress. Place heavier products at the knee to chest-high levels. Limit the amount of weight a worker must carry and allow for assisted lifting from other workers.

Install guards on conveyor sprockets, gears, and rollers. All pinch points must be protected and labeled.

Use plastic or metal banding to secure product to pallets for transportation or storage.

Shrink-wrap any loose product for transport or storage. It is extremely important to secure small items that might fall through the overhead guard of a lift truck.

Clean out dock areas periodically to remove accumulated debris.

Only allow OSHA documented, trained, authorized employees to operate powered hand trucks, hand jacks or forklifts.

Inspect the dock area daily to ensure that emergency equipment is not blocked or damaged.

Require all employees to use wheel chocks or trailer restraints at every bay. (This is not just a good idea - it's the law)

Paint the dock edge a reflective yellow to provide a better view of the dock.

Verify that ladders from the dock floor to the dock will meet OSHA specifications.

Ensure that proper illumination for exit doors, docks, handrails, and steps comply with OSHA 1910.24.

Identify and mark overhead hazards such as pipes, doors and electric wires.

Prohibit dock jumping, which can lead to severe ankle, knee and back injuries.

Make sure that dock plates and boards are designed for the loads and lift trucks used.

Always inspect the floors of trailers and trucks before forklifts or pallet jacks are driven onto them.

Always inspect the landing gear and place jack stands under trailers that are spotted at your dock.

Always make sure dock levelers are returned to the stored position after being used "below-dock." Proper storage will eliminate a large "void in the floor" and help prevent forklift cross traffic accidents.

Provide a dock seal or dock shelter to keep rain and snow off loading docks which can cause slippery surfaces.

Dock Safety Devices

Training is the primary means of keeping your employees safe in a loading dock environment. There are many mechanical devices that if used and installed correctly, can help reduce potential hazards in these areas.

Wheel Chocks

Wheel chocks are an essential safety device used for securing the wheels of tractor trailers delivering or picking up material. Wheel chocks ensure the wheels of the trailer, so that trailer creep and movement of the trailer are eliminated. Chocks are made of rubber, steel, aluminum or other different materials.

Dock Boards

These steel or aluminum ramps are used to bridge the gap between the truck trailer and the loading dock so that pallet jacks or forklifts may move product in and out of the trailer. Employees should be trained on the proper and safe use of dock boards. Poorly placed dock boards may cause the forklift and or loads to overturn. Dock boards are portable but typically require the use of a forklift to move them. They are used in more industrial and heavier load environments.

Dock Plates

Dock plates are a smaller and more portable equivalent of the dock board. They may be constructed out of aluminum, steel or polyethylene and do not have the weight capacity of the dock board. If you only use hand trucks or pallet trucks you may need a dock plate, not a dock board.

Dock Levelers

Dock levelers are items that also bridge the gap between loading docks and trailers; however, the dock leveler also helps correct the height difference between loading docks and trailers. Dock levelers are permanent devices that are operated either by hand (mechanical) or by hydraulics.

Dock Signaling Devices

A new technology that has begun to emerge is the use of signaling devices that indicate that a person or powered industrial truck is in the trailer or that the trailer is properly secured and forklift traffic can enter the trailer.

Guarding

Guarding devices are essential to loading dock safety. Examples of guarding devices are guard rails, bollards, and stops. A safe loading dock will find guardrails being used to separate pedestrian traffic from the production traffic of the loading dock. Also, guard rails can be used to protect stationary equipment or machinery and structures from accidental impacts from forklifts. Bollards serve much the same purpose but are used to protect building corners or where space around an area is limited. When placed correctly the bollard will keep a forklift from damaging a structure more severely. Another guarding item commonly found are "stops." Stops are steel plates placed along raised locations in a warehouse or loading dock intended to keep personnel and forklifts from falling over the edge of a raised area.

Commonly Asked Questions

Q. Is there a specific OSHA standard for loading dock safety?

A. Yes, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.176 material handling and storage. In addition, you will need to use a combination of standards to ensure that you have a safe loading dock area. Some of these standards are: 29 CFR 1910.178 general industry, 29 CFR 1926.600; 1926.602 construction, American National Standard for Powered Industrial Trucks, Part II, ANSI B56.1-1969, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.22 walking-working surfaces, and the ANSI A1264.2-2006 provision for the slip resistance on walking/working surfaces.



Q. What are the primary differences between a dock board and dock plate?

A. A dock board will be constructed of steel or aluminum, will have side curbs, lifting chains or loops, locking pins or legs, and will have weight capacities of 10,000 lb, 15,000 lb, and 20,000 lb. The dock plate can have many of the same features but will have considerable lower weight capacities and may be able to be moved by hand. Most dock plates do not have safety curbs or locking pins and are recommended only for non-powered loading and off-loading of material.



Q. What are other dock safety items that may be considered?

A.

A company may want to consider the use of dock lights to illuminate the interior of trailers during operations
Dock bumpers should be used to protect building edges from semi-trailers being parked
Steel rail systems may be used to partition off areas of pedestrian or forklift traffic
Trailer jacks are used to stabilize tractor-trailers during loading and unloading operations


Source: Grainger "Loading Dock Safety"