Begin by training workers to recognize the hazards, including:
- 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 Trainer.
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.
Effective, 7-minute sessions providing comprehensive safety training at an average cost of $1 a day. 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
In tomorrow’s Advisor, we’ll go inside to highlight some key safety issues for warehouse workers and explore a great resource for conducting toolbox training talks.