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There are few places in an industrial facility as dangerous as the loading dock. Even though most loading docks aren't very high off the ground, they're often busy, contain moving vehicles, and can be wet, icy, or dirty from exposure to the outdoor environment. It's not just the loading dock itself poses the risk of dangerous falls; if you receive or ship items on flatbed trailers, you also need to address the fall hazards that employees on the trailers face. Luckily, safety rails can be used for both flatbed trailer fall protection and loading dock safety.
As an employer, it's your obligation to make sure that employees are safe whenever they're at work. Fall protection is one of the most important issues facing employers and you must meet the guidelines, or you'll face stiff fines and penalties for non-compliance.
OSHA General Industry Standard 1910.28(b)(1)(i) states
". . . employers must ensure that each employee on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet or more above a lower level is protected from falling by one or more of the following: (A) Guardrail systems; (B) Safety net systems; or (C) Personal fall protection systems, such as personal fall arrest, travel restraint, or positioning systems."
OSHA fall protection rules must be followed regardless of the type of business you operate. If you have employees working at or above the heights listed above, you need to provide OSHA-compliant fall protection such as a safety rail, safety nets, or personal fall protection equipment. Just as you must provide fall protection for all employees working on elevated work surfaces, mezzanines, rooftops, and loading docks, you must protect workers on flatbed trailers.
The openness of flatbed trailers, with no walls or roof to get in the way, makes them a flexible option for shipping large and difficult-to-manage cargo. But these open-space features can also present fall hazards for drivers and loading dock workers. The dangers workers encounter when loading and unloading flatbed trailers mean that you’ll need to take action to protect them from falls.
Guardrails for Flatbed Trailers
You may not realize that the unprotected sides of a flatbed trailer are actually the perfect application for safety rails. Similar to the guardrails that you would install elsewhere in your facility, these flatbed trailer safety rails provide fall protection without compromising an employee’s movements. For a 100% OSHA-compliant safety system, consider a flatbed trailer safety rail system. Flatbed trailer safety rails are designed to reduce fall risks on elevated flatbed trailers, much like guardrails protect other areas inside and on the rooftops of your facility.
Mobile Loading Platforms
In addition to guardrails for flatbed trailers that enter your facility's loading dock area, you may also want to consider additional fall protection such as mobile loading platforms. These portable loading and unloading systems can be moved wherever and whenever needed. They are equipped with a non-slip surface and guardrails meant to protect workers from the potential fall hazards they encounter while loading and unloading trailers.
Personal Fall Protection Systems
In some cases, flatbed trailer safety rails may not work ideally, due to space constrictions and other factors. If safety rails aren't feasible, you can use OSHA-compliant personal fall protection systems like an overhead fall arrest system to keep employees safe while loading and unloading a trailer.
Using guardrails for flatbed trailers to keep workers safe is a great idea, but it's hardly enough to eliminate all the fall hazards they'll encounter. As flatbed and enclosed trailers are backed up to the loading dock, things get busy, and accidents can happen. Fall prevention methods on loading docks include:
Loading Dock Guardrails
Per OSHA 1910.28, you need to provide fall protection for workers who are exposed to a 4' drop to the level below. This is almost certainly the case for your loading docks. An OSHA-compliant guardrail system installed around the perimeter of the loading dock along with an industrial loading dock safety gate will eliminate most fall hazards.
Personal Fall Protection Systems
As with guardrails for flatbed trailers, you are not obligated to use guardrails for loading dock safety under OSHA regulations. If you cannot install safety rails for any reason, you must come up with an alternative way to protect workers from falls, such as issuing workers OSHA-compliant personal fall protection systems.
Warning Lights and Alarms
Loading docks can be loud and full of distractions, which makes them an even bigger fall hazard than other areas of your facility. In addition to safety rails and a swing gate, or a personal fall protection system, you may want to install warning lights and alarms to keep workers aware of dangers.
If you've come to the conclusion that guardrails are the right fall protection solution for your flatbed trailers and loading docks, keep in mind they must meet the standards for guardrails set forth in OSHA 1910.29. Your railings must:
Be 42" tall (+ or- 3"), measured from the walking/working surface.
Withstand a force of 200 lbs. applied to the top rail without failure.
Handle a downward or outward force of 150 lbs. on mid-rails without failing.
Be made of a smooth material that won't snag clothing or scratch workers' skin.
Be properly installed and secure.
When it comes to fall protection, you can rely on Bluewater. Whether you need a guardrail system that provides loading dock safety, flatbed trailer fall protection, or guards against other fall hazards, contact us. We'd love to tell you about our line of OSHA-compliant guardrails and safety rails, including our newest offering: flatbed trailer safety rails that come complete with an access ladder and safety gate.
