Health and safety are important aspects of any work environment and should not be overlooked. When it comes to loading bay equipment, operating heavy machinery and using specialised equipment, these safety regulations are pertinent to prevent injury or damage. This article outlines some loading bay solutions that can be implemented to ensure the environment is safe.
Know the risks
Conducting a thorough risk assessment that involves all produce, the team, the environment and the equipment is a great foundation to work from.
Here is a basic structure for a risk assessment:
- Navigate all tasks involving and surrounding the loading bay equipment (loading and unloading, manual handling, cleaning, etc).
- Write down any potential hazards that crop up (places you could trip, any areas the vehicle could hit, any areas at height, etc).
- Figure out what workers will be present to identify who might get harmed.
- Figure out how likely the risk is and whether any measures could be taken to prevent the risk or manage the risk better (protective gear, clear signposting, etc.).
Organise the loading bay area safely
Organise the loading/unloading bay area so it is easy to identify; this reduces the risk of the wrong people or vehicles being present. The easiest way to do this is to mark and separate the loading area from other traffic and pedestrian routes. Put obvious signs up so that you don’t get anyone there that has not been factored into your risk assessment.
Make sure the ground is level, clear and doesn’t have any potholes so any vehicles or machinery operating there can move smoothly. In a similar vein, the path should be well-lit so the driver/operator can see clearly.
Check equipment
The loading bay equipment, whether it is dock lifts, mezzanine goods lifts, double-deck lifts, etc., needs to be checked and meet professional standards to be as safe as possible. This includes checking the tyres, wheels, lights, key controls and brakes.
These should be checked regularly, as frequent maintenance ensures the equipment remains working to a high standard and that all safety requirements are met.
Make sure all equipment is level and comes with any necessary extra aids, such as straps, to keep equipment or products in place.
Training staff or operators
Staff operating machinery
Work in loading/unloading bays is best done by qualified and trained professionals who are aware of any hazards and can react quickly to prevent anything from worsening or even occurring at all.
Staff manually loading/unloading
Staff who are helping unload manually should be trained on health and safety rules and physical skills, such as appropriate handling and lifting techniques. Equally, there should be a defined weight limit so people are not overdoing it; this can be a simple way to prevent common minor injuries like pulled muscles.
Another consideration for those loading/unloading from the machines and into the warehouse is whether they are working from a height. It is always safer to work with the loading bay low to the ground. However, as this is not always possible, you can use extra safety equipment like fall restraints or have the platforms cornered off with fences or bars.
All staff
All staff must be aware of the original risk assessment and be conscious of potential hazards. It is also best to foster a positive work culture where people feel able to communicate with the whole team about any hazards, even minor ones like spills or clutter in the loading bay.
The correct outfits or uniform should be worn. This can range from basic protective gear, like high-visibility jackets, to more advanced gear, like high-grade non-slip shoes (depending on the environment).
Implement appropriate loading bay safety
The structure of implementing loading bay safety is relatively simple and it is an undeniably essential part of labour jobs, so it should be taken seriously and continually forefronted.