The loading dock is an essential part of any manufacturing company, warehouse, or distribution center. It is what allows the process of raw materials to enter and completed goods to be transported to consumers and end users. Unfortunately, the loading dock can be a hazardous environment where accidents can occur. It is estimated that 25% of all industrial accidents happen at the loading dock according to ISHN.
To mitigate the risk of accidents, organizations often invest in loading dock safety systems to mitigate the risk of accidents or injury at the loading dock. A variety of systems can be found on the market to prevent these incidents such as hook restraints, wheel chocks, blocking arms, and interlocking gladhand systems.
Organizations often invest in these systems to avoid accidental injuries at the dock and spend anywhere from thousands to millions for a corporate or site wide roll out of one of these systems. Companies expect these systems to be a one-time investment that will prevent them from incurring the costs associated with a workplace injury or potential death.
What companies don’t expect is the high recurring maintenance costs associated with some types of loading dock safety systems.
Loading dock safety systems typically fall into the categories below and can vary in maintenance costs:
Automatic Wheel Restraints: Automatic wheel restraints such as powered chocks perform in a similar way to mechanical chocks; however, they are automatic and thus require no personnel in the yard to fit it. They are also integrated with other dock equipment which ensures that a safe process is enforced. Some systems are built in at sub ground level and therefore require significant installation effort, these can also be significantly affected by the elements. Systems that are installed above ground become an obstacle, especially in winter.
Like mechanical chocks, relatively high maintenance costs can be associated with these systems due to the number of moving parts, concrete work associated with damaged equipment, and the time associated with clearing snow/ice in harsh weather conditions.
Hook Restraints: Hook restraints can be manual or automatic systems that prevent drive aways at the loading dock. The hook restraint is installed at the dock door and when a truck is present, the hook is engaged and clamps onto the ICC bar of the vehicle to prevent the trailer to pull away from the dock prematurely.
Hook restraint systems can require significant maintenance due to the number of moving parts, hydraulics, damage to equipment, and high forces involved in restraining the vehicle at the loading dock.
Mechanical Chocks/Wheel Restraint: Mechanical chocks build upon the principle of manual chocks however they typically have additional permanent structure that they are fitted to which provides increased restraining force. If the permanent structure is higher than ground level, these can become an obstacle, especially in winter when ploughing the site. Ground level plates can also be affected by winter conditions as they become covered in snow/ice, making it difficult to fit the chock.
There can be high maintenance costs associated with these types of restraint systems due to the number of moving parts, damage to permanent structures, and the time associated with clearing snow/ice in harsh weather conditions.
Manual Chocks: Manual chocks are common, simple wedges of material that are placed closely against a vehicle’s wheel to prevent accidental drive aways.
Chocks can be unreliable as they can easily be lost, stolen or broken. Maintenance cost for manual chocks include complete product replacements and can vary due to the number of sets of chocks the facility owns.
Interlocking Gladhands: Gladhand devices are used to lock out the air brake of the trailer to prevent movement at the loading dock. When gladhand devices are interlocked with the dock door with fixed mounted trapped key interlock devices, they can create a sequential safety process that must be followed to load and unload the trailer that results in the prevention of drive aways at the loading dock.
Maintenance costs associated with these systems are minimal as the only maintenance required is the greasing of the gladhand coupling device once per year depending on the temperature of your facility’s location.
In the below chart, common loading dock safety systems are ranked from the highest to lowest associated maintenance costs for a facility with 25 loading bays over the time period of one year:
As you can see, some safety solutions require more maintenance than others, resulting in high costs that cut into the facility’s profit. If you and your facility find yourself in the position of continually having to maintain components, replace damaged equipment, order replacements, and spend entirely too much time and money on your loading docks safety system, it is time to reconsider your existing system.
Safety at the loading shouldn’t cause additional headaches, it should be simple, safe, and low maintenance. Lucky for you, there are other options than your existing solution that won’t cut into your facilities profit.
Emily Smith
About the Author:
Emily Smith is the Logistics Segment Marketing Manager for Halma’s subsidiary companies Kirk Key Interlock (US), Castell Safety International (UK), and Serv Trayvou Interverrouillage (FR). These global companies work within the energy, industry, and logistics sectors to protect people from hazardous environments with their range of trapped key interlock safety solutions. Emily has been with the business since 2016 and has grown to become knowledgeable about the issues many experiences within the logistics sector. To learn more, follow Emily on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/emily-smith-0b7a6b94
