February 19, 2016 | Industry Insights, Insights, Shipping

Loading Dock Safety and Preventing Employee Slip & Fall Injuries

Share This:

Loading docks present a number of significant risks, not at all surprising when considering the volume of traffic that takes place at these locations, as well as the variety of personnel who are required to work in the area. As there are too many hazards to address in one article, the following focuses on slips and falls prevention at loading docks. Slips and falls are a leading cause of Workers’ Compensation claims in the U.S., according to a recent insurer survey, and contribute to the $62 billion spent by employers for employee injuries in 2013, as reflected in recent statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The following are some general measures, including some from OSHA, to emphasize in your operation to help minimize slips and falls in the loading dock area:

  • Keep floors clean, dry and in good condition. This involves ensuring that all spills, leaks and wet areas are cleaned up immediately. Alert trained responders to major spills and follow safety guidelines for cleaning up a chemical spill. Report and repair any cracks, holes or other damage to flooring at once. Keep all containers, packaging and tools out of the way, and clean up and properly dispose of trash.
  • Strongly encourage/enforce that employees watch where they’re walking and to stay clear of dock edges, with any unsafe behavior such as jumping onto or off the loading dock firmly discouraged.
  • Keep dock plates in place. Check dock plate load capacity to ensure it can handle your load, and secure movable dockboards in position so they don’t slip. Slide – don’t drop – dock plates in top position.
  • Keep dock areas and stairs free of ice and snow. Water entering the dock loading area can create a slip hazard for both visitors and employees using mechanical equipment. Most loading bays have canopies, curtains or shelters to create a weather shield. However, ill-fitting seals or different vehicle and trailer designs, such as trailers designed to improve aerodynamics, may compromise the weather shield. The sloping design means that water will naturally run backwards into the loading area. There are a number of types of canopy, seal or shelter available for docks to protect the vehicle/trailer and dock interface from the weather and in particular from water ingress, which creates the slip hazard. Generally, the more adjustable the canopy, the better the fit. However, adjustable systems generally require more maintenance and may be more prone to damage. Be sure to consider the type of canopy most suitable for your operations. Also, ensure where possible, that trailers are fitted with rainwater grooves to divert the water off sideways and not off the rear into the dock.

In future articles, we’ll cover other loading dock hazards, including equipment and machinery risks, dock creep, load run-away, driver pull-away and other issues, to help ensure a high level of worker and driver safety. Roanoke Trade is committed to helping logistic service providers with their loss control efforts for improved safety outcomes, healthier employees and reduced insurance costs. For more information about our comprehensive business insurance products and effective risk management to help mitigate losses, contact one of our professionals at 1-800-ROANOKE (800-762-6653).

Share This:

Related


Unlocking Success: The Key Elements of Carrier Vetting and Managing Liability

By: Andrew Johnson, Account Executive, Roanoke Insurance Group Inc. The freight brokerage industry as we know it today began in the late 1970s and early 1980s, around the time of the Motor Carrier Act of 1980. Before the passage of this landmark legislation, regulations were too restrictive to make freight brokerage a viable business segment. […]

Industry Insights

2023 NCBFAA Scholarship & Application Announcement

Roanoke Insurance Group is delighted to once again sponsor a $5,000 scholarship to students intending to join the trade industry. The National Customs Broker and Forwarder Association of America (NCBFAA) offers this $5,000 scholarship award yearly and will be presented to the winner at the NCBFAA annual conference in April 2023. The topic for this […]

Industry Insights

Roanoke Appoints a New Regional Vice President and Head of Sales

Roanoke has appointed two key leaders to new roles, effective November 1, 2023. Please join us in congratulating Patrice Lafayette for accepting the position of Regional Vice President, Western Region, and Grant Goldsmith, who has accepted a position as Head of Sales. Patrice has been a steadfast leader of Roanoke’s Western Region for more than […]

Industry Insights

Roanoke is the leading provider of insurance and surety solutions for transportation and logistics providers. In fact, we are recognized as the most reliable source for U.S. customs bonds.

Contact

If you have any questions or need help, feel free to contact with our team.

800-762-6653

US CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS

1501 E. Woodfield Road

Suite 400W

Schaumburg, IL 60173


CANADA CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS

390 Bay Street

Munich Re Centre, 22nd Floor

Toronto, ON M5H 2Y2

Solutions that Go the Distance.

© 2024 Roanoke Insurance Group Inc. A Munich Re company

Better Business Bureau logoCoverholder at Lloyd's logo