Loading docks have always been one of the most dangerous areas of plants and distribution centers. Anyone in or around the interior or exterior of the dock area could be at risk, from dock attendants to forklift operators, service technicians or even just bystanders. In fact, nearly 100 workers are killed and 20,000 seriously injured in the U.S. every year in dock-related incidents, usually involving forklifts. While no two loading dock operations are exactly the same, one thing is certain: better communication between forklift operators, truck drivers and pedestrians in the loading dock area can help reduce accidents.
Fortunately, dock communication systems have seen great advances in recent years, with the development of LED-light based systems that clearly signal when it’s safe for the lift truck operator to begin unloading or loading, and when it’s safe for the truck driver to pull away from the dock after the trailer has been serviced and the vehicle is unlocked. Today’s state-of-the-art light communication systems also visually communicate to loading dock personnel if a forklift is inside a trailer. Oftentimes the lift driver’s sight line is blocked by pallets or other obstructions. These systems also include an audible alarm that sounds if the restraint is prematurely disengaged.