Safety on the Loading Dock

Loading docks can be hazardous places for employees to work. Hazards include:

• Slipping on wet or oily surfaces
• Tripping on broken floor surfaces
• Falling off dock edges
• Injuries from falls or unsecured dock plates
• Injuries caused by motion if someone forgets to chock trailer wheels
• Carbon monoxide exposure
• Back injuries from heavy lifting
• Injuries from run-ins with forklifts and other equipment

Here are some training tips for loading dock workers, courtesy of BLR’s 7-Minute Safety

Keep Floors Clean, Dry, and in Good Condition

• Place containers, packaging, tools, and other materials safely out of walking and driving areas.
• Clean up and properly dispose of trash.
• Clean up any spills immediately, and watch out for dripping rain, melting ice, etc.
• Report any cracked or broken flooring.

---

Think you have no time to train? Think again. BLR’s 7-Minute Safety Trainer helps you fulfill key OSHA-required training tasks in as little as 7 minutes. Try it at no cost and see!

---

Keep Dock Plates in Place

• Check dock plate load capacity to be sure it can handle the load.
• Secure movable dockboards into position so that they won’t slip.
• Slide, don’t drop, dock plates into position.

Take Precautions to Prevent Falls

• Walk, don’t run.
• Watch where you’re going.
• Don’t engage in horseplay.
• Stay away from edges.
• Don’t jump onto or off the loading dock.
• Wear sturdy shoes with nonslip soles.

Work Safely with Trucks and Trailers

• Check that truck and trailer wheels are chocked before loading or unloading.
• Make sure drivers turn of motors to prevent carbon monoxide exposure.

---

Can you picture safety training in effective, 7-minute sessions? Get the details.

---

Load and Unload Correctly

• Use forklifts, pallet jacks, hand trucks, and other mechanical aids rather than lifting and carrying whenever possible.
• When you do lift, use the safe lifting technique (bend your knees and lift with your legs).
• Wear snug-fitting work gloves to provide a good grip.
• Load hand trucks with heavy items at the bottom, and keep the weight over the axle.
• Balance and secure loads.
• Keep load heights at a level you can see over.

Be Alert for Vehicles, Materials, and Other Workers

• Watch out for forklifts and other workers moving around the dock.
• Get out of the way when you hear a forklift horn.
• Pay attention to materials on the dock that could fall or roll.
• Wear a hard hat, eye protection, and hearing protection when required

More Articles on Safety Management