For decades, companies have posted caution signs and set speed limits for forklift operators as a way to protect against catastrophic forklift-pedestrian accidents. Yet an important fact is that nearly 100 workers are killed each year in the U.S. as a result of forklift-related incidents, which is a strong indication that more is needed, especially at the loading dock where special circumstances elevate the safety risk. Here are three best practices that will help create a safer dock for pedestrians and forklift operators alike.
Loading docks are busy places where forklift operators are typically working the hardest, and at a fast pace. Loading and unloading trailers takes an extra level of concentration and sense of awareness. Challenges specific to forklift operators working in shipping/receiving/staging areas include:
Impaired vision: A forklift driver’s ability to watch for pedestrians is severely hampered when the forklift moves into the trailer where it is essentially operating inside a tunnel. A dangerous blind spot exists until the forklift has fully backed out of the trailer.
Unexpected dock entry: Pedestrians and visitors can often enter the loading dock area without forklift operators’ knowledge, such as from a side door.
Out-of-bounds pedestrians: People often step out of zones designated for pedestrian travel. This might include truck drivers who enter a facility to engage and disengage the vehicle restraint, technicians who service docks, employees who manually assemble pallet loads, and employees traveling from dock opening to dock opening.
Stopping requirements: A forklift moving at 10 mph may take 40 feet to stop. One study shows that a panic stop takes 1.3 feet for each mile per hour. Slippery or wet floors make it even more difficult to quickly stop a forklift’s momentum.