The summer months can create additional loading dock safety hazards that many employees are not aware of. That’s why paying close attention to the effects that the season can have on your employees’ ability to safely navigate the workplace can go a long way toward reducing the risk of accidents. To help your facility improve its warehouse dock safety, here are some of the most important hazards to be aware of, as well as information on how commercial safety gate devices, modular rails for loading dock protection, and more can minimize risk in the summer months.
Common Loading Dock Safety Hazards
Loading docks can involve several potential tripping and falling hazards at any time of year, which means that installing OSHA-compliant loading dock safety gates, modular guardrails for equipment, and other fall protection solutions is an important step in creating a work environment that is as safe as possible. Some common year-round causes of loading dock falls include (but are not limited to):
- Uneven Heights: Perfectly lining your trailer beds up with the edges of your loading dock can be challenging and having one bed higher than the other (or gaps between the two) is common. These uneven surfaces can lead to tripping, especially when employees are focusing more on maneuvering heavy items than exactly where they are stepping. Safety gates or other loading dock protection by forcing stops in main walkways, creating regular intervals when workers need to focus on their surroundings, which can make them aware of uneven walking surfaces and minimize risk.
- Regular Wear and Tear: Like any aspect of your workplace, your loading docks are likely to experience wear and tear from consistent use. This may start manifesting as minor issues, they can lead to a wide range of potential tripping hazards, such as holes, cracks, and bumps that worsen over time. While regular maintenance and repair can help improve warehouse dock safety, workers can encounter them before maintenance teams are aware that they exist. Installing proper loading dock safety gates or other solutions can help by giving workers stops to give them natural pauses, rails to hold onto should they slip, or barriers that could keep them from entering high-risk areas to begin with.
Additional Seasonal Loading Dock Safety Hazards
While loading docks are always a high-risk area for falls and other types of safety hazards, this potential often becomes significantly higher during the summer months. Seasonal changes have the potential to make certain aspects of your loading dock function differently than they normally do, as well as impact your employees’ ability to respond to potential hazards as quickly as they normally would.
- Ventilation: Loading docks can be hot and humid during the summer months, and your employees may decide to leave your loading dock doors open to allow fresh air to circulate and make the dock more comfortable. However, suddenly having an empty space where there used to be a closed door can introduce a risk of falling. Installing a commercial safety gate or other protective equipment can provide an extra layer of safety when employees inevitably forget or choose not to close the door.
- Heat-Related Illnesses: Warmer weather can also cause heat exhaustion and other conditions that may make it difficult for employees to safely function in loading dock settings. Should they face these issues, heat could hinder their ability to think clearly, miscalculate distances between gaps or uneven walking surface, or quickly avoid a potential hazard. Warehouse dock safety equipment could help them by giving them supports to steady themselves on, while they could use stopping points at a commercial safety gate to catch their breath or evaluate the visible walkways past that point.
Preventing Heat-Related Loading Dock Fall Hazards
Staying on top of changing OSHA fall protection guidelines can ensure that your loading dock and the rest of your workplace at least meet the minimum safety standards for your area and your industry. These guidelines provide information about specific types of OSHA-compliant products, such as loading dock gates, modular guardrails, and mezzanine gates, that are most capable of keeping your workplace in compliance with local and industry fall protection requirements. However, choosing higher-quality loading dock safety products, having multiple layers of protection in place, and educating employees on the steps they can take to further reduce their risk can help your business exceed minimum guidelines and create a workplace environment and culture that consistently earn high safety ratings.
Choose Fabenco for Reliable Loading Dock Fall Protection
At Fabenco by Tractel, we prioritize the safety of every member of your team when it comes to creating the most ideal work environment possible. While your loading dock can present significant tripping and falling hazards, especially during the summer months, it is just one of many areas of your workplace that may need attention when it comes to reducing the likelihood of fall-related injuries. Our loading dock safety gates, modular guardrails, mezzanine gates, and other loading dock protection products have built a strong reputation for making loading docks, rooftops, and a variety of other hazardous environments significantly safer.
Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of choosing our fall protection systems or to start planning the most effective upgrades to your workplace.
