Loading Safety First

A constant reminder to the ongoing struggle to mitigate on the job injuries is that dreaded OSHA accident report, which is posted every year for the world to see. One area that needs constant improvement and vigilance is safety on the worksite. Often, accidents happen when trucks are thought to be fully loaded and ready to depart.

Plan for What Could Happen
From the very beginning while in the planning stages of setting up your warehouse, there should be an area specifically designated for each task, so you have control as to where and when your equipment is in use and your workers walk. For example, the loading dock should have its own designated area. Use brightly painted lines to designate open areas and add to that signs and cones to inform workers of danger zones.

The next area of safety includes both the driver and loader. Unfortunately, communication breaks down and while one individual may assume that the loading is complete, another worker assumes that the driver knows that he or she is still in the trailer. You know what they say about the word “assume.” What typically happens is the diver takes off with the worker still in the back of the truck causing injury to that employee.

Important to the safety of everyone involved is constant communication as well as ropes and blocks to deter individuals from entering a loading zone with trucks that may be ready to move. It is inevitable that there is going to be some form of injury within a warehouse environment, but never let it be said, it was because of your organizations lack of effort. The key is to mitigate injuries as much as possible by taking proper precautions and providing adequate training.