Course Description
Loading docks are a hub of activity for many working in manufacturing plants, warehouses, industrial buildings, and distribution centers. According to Industrial Safety & Hygiene News, 25 percent of all industrial accidents occur at the loading dock. And for each accident that occurs, there are about 600 near-misses. A loading dock can be a busy and dangerous place. It is important to understand the hazards that you can encounter working on a loading dock and how to avoid them.
In most companies, the loading dock is the primary location for the movement of product in and out of a facility. A loading dock is constructed as a recessed bay in a facility that enables the easy loading and unloading of trucks and other transport. Loading dock safety is a careful blend of employee training, adherence to standard operating procedures, good housekeeping, and using safety precautions. With the use of forklifts, pallet jacks, and other manual means to move loads in and out of a facility, loading docks become critical transition areas, so it’s important to review the hazards associated with loading docks and safety practices to use to help prevent injuries and incidents.
What You'll Learn
- Apply safe working procedures for working on a loading dock
- Prevent slips, trips, and falls in loading dock areas
- Dock transport vehicles safely during loading and unloading
- Operate materials handling equipment such as forklifts and pallet jacks on a dock
- Identify the hazards associated with loading docks and the safety practices that prevent injuries and incidents
Key Takeaways
- Loading docks are a hub of activity in manufacturing plants, warehouses, industrial buildings, and distribution centers, and serve as the primary location for moving product in and out of a facility.
- According to Industrial Safety & Hygiene News, 25 percent of all industrial accidents occur at the loading dock, with about 600 near-misses for each accident that occurs.
- A loading dock is constructed as a recessed bay that enables the easy loading and unloading of trucks and other transport.
- Loading dock safety is a blend of employee training, adherence to standard operating procedures, good housekeeping, and using safety precautions.
- The use of forklifts, pallet jacks, and other manual means to move loads makes loading docks critical transition areas where reviewing hazards and safety practices helps prevent injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this course for?
It is intended for people working at loading docks in manufacturing plants, warehouses, industrial buildings, and distribution centers, where loading docks are a hub of activity for moving product in and out of a facility.
What topics does the course cover?
The course covers safe working procedures, preventing slips, trips, and falls, docking transport vehicles, and operating materials handling equipment on a dock, with lessons spanning an introduction, each of these topics, and a conclusion.
What skills will I gain from this course?
The course builds skills in loading and unloading, cargo loading, forklift safety, industrial safety systems, transportation safety, and workplace safety.
Why is loading dock safety important?
A loading dock can be a busy and dangerous place where 25 percent of all industrial accidents occur, so understanding the hazards you can encounter and how to avoid them helps prevent injuries and incidents.
