The loading bay is an essential component of the retail, distribution, and logistic industries, but despite its daily use, it poses significant dangers to workers, and the risks need careful management.
Indeed, over half a million workplace injuries and 135 deaths were reported during 2022/23, according to the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), with up to 30 fatalities occurring across the manufacturing, transportation and storage sectors. Within these fatalities, up to 66% were due to a moving vehicle.
Forklift-related incidents alone resulted in 1,300 workers being hospitalised, according to The British Council, with five people a day facing life-altering consequences. Seen over the last five years, almost a fifth (19%) of all fatalities at the workplace were the result of being struck by a moving vehicle. Despite loading bay equipment being traditionally thought of as low-tech, nowadays, investing in new technology is an important way to prevent incidents in and around the loading bay.
Thorsten Mauritz, Marketing Manager (Europe) at Rite-Hite gives his top five tips on how to increase safety for workers at the loading bay through high-tech solutions:
1. Decrease the risk of communication breakdown with loading dock and trailer management software – The latest loading dock software allows workers to receive a constant, real-time digital view of each dock position. This helps to reduce the chance for injury by replacing more traditional radio conversation and internal paperwork, which can too often lead to confusion and human error.
2. Enhance communication status at the loading bay with additional lighting – New ancillary lights are available that mimic the red/green light system of control boxes. Helping to communicate the ‘restrain status’ to drivers, these new lights have been developed to maintain line-of-sight communication regardless of obstructions in front of mounted lightboxes.
3. Maintain supply chain integrity with a drive-through application solution – Trailer doors must only be opened when they are in the building, limiting the exposure of the cargo to the elements and removing the likelihood of an accident occurring to the workers outside. This means a trailer’s door remains locked until it is backed up against the dock and fully secured.
4. Prevent pedestrian and equipment fall with new protective technologies – The latest advanced levellers are equipped with safety lips that form a drive-off barrier, so when the leveller is in a stored position it prevents workers from falling from the dock door. Rugged, retractable barriers can reinforce and save workers from forklifts falling off an open loading bay.
5. Decrease risk with the Global Wheel Lok – One of the biggest risks comes when the delivery vehicle arrives/departs from the loading bay. Early departures known as ‘trailer creep’ are a hazard and can result in serious injury. Rite-Hite’s Global Wheel Lok prevents a vehicle from moving and can secure any type of trailer. Capable of resisting up to 142kN of pull-out force, it is one of Europe’s only restraints that exceed the FEM Class 3 requirements.
“Ensuring safety protocols are followed, and all safety equipment is kept in top working condition is a critical step facility need to implement in order to reduce the risk of incidents at the loading bay,” Thorsten says. “At Rite-Hite, our priority is to provide a wide range of solutions designed and proven to improve safety and security of all our clients.”
For more information on Rite-Hite products and solutions visit: info.ritehite.com/en/eu/loading-bay-safety-guide.
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