Limit the risk of falling into an empty loading dock

An empty or vacant loading bay exposes personnel and handling equipment such as forklifts to the risk of dangerous falls at a height of more than 1 meter. Companies are therefore required to install adequate guarding at these levels under OSHA 1910.23, “Guarding Openings and Holes in Walls.” In addition, the ANSI, or American National Standards Institute, has established requirements relating to the safety of risk areas such as platforms, stairs, ramps or even runways in directive A1264.1-2007.

Chain of security: an insecure solution

Some companies opt for security chains, believing that they are sufficient to provide an adequate level of protection for personnel and equipment. Nevertheless, it is not the case. In reality, these devices have almost no ability to stop a forklift, a moving pallet truck, or even a person, even if a dock door is closed.

In other words, the risk of falling and serious accidents are always present. But what device should be installed for optimal security?

Security barrier or suitable door: more suitable solutions

The installation of a safety barrier or an adequate industrial door is the best solution to provide optimal safety for personnel and handling equipment at the level of a point of fall of more than 1 m or any elevated area. . To do this, we recommend opting for one of these Rite-Hite devices:

• Safe-T-Lip®: A protective barrier capable of stopping a forklift weighing approximately 10,000 pounds traveling at a speed of 4 mph.
• Dok-Guardian®: A safety barrier capable of retaining equipment weighing up to 30,000 lbs.

In addition, these devices visually warn personnel of the danger and therefore warn them not to approach the risk zone to avoid falls from heights. Their presence is especially required for installations that apply the “dock doors closed” policy.

Conclusion

Interested in these solutions? At Canado-Nacan Equipment, we offer solutions for safety devices. We invite you to contact us for additional information about them. We also inform you that we are the exclusive distributor of the Rite-Hite network in Quebec. In fact, we have been partners for more than 25 years now.