Sprint to the Finish

Economic experts say the Great Recession is waning. However, the going won't be easy in 2010 as the economy slowly recovers. That means material handling managers need to continue to find ways to work faster, smarter, safer and even leaner as the economy regains its strength.

One sure-fire way to make rapid progress is to manage the flow of raw materials and finished goods at the loading dock. This is especially true, since it's an area that has a profound impact on the efficiency and safety of an operation's distribution chain.

Following are some best practices to ensure the dock contributes to a positive outcome in the year ahead.

Safety First

Historically, the loading dock is a fast-paced, inherently dangerous environment. Given the importance that overall corporate stability plays in 2010, now is the time to assess the safety risks and take steps to address them.

Some of the most pressing issues include:

• Catastrophic dock accidents

  If a semi-trailer separates from a dock, the results can be catastrophic. Install vehicle restraints that operate automatically and use a hook to wrap around the rear-impact guard of the trailer. This type of restraint protects against almost all forms of catastrophic accidents associated with trailer separation. Restraints also guard against trailer tampering and theft.

• Chronic, long-term injuries

  Trailer beds can drop approximately eight inches during loading and unloading as lift trucks travel in and out of them. Use stabilizing trailer restraints to minimize the potential for chronic back and neck injuries. Some levelers are designed to create a smooth transition in and out of trailers to guard against the potential for long-term injuries to lift truck operators.

• Lift truck-pedestrian collisions

  The second most common cause of lift truck-related fatalities is when a lift truck strikes a pedestrian, according to the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety. Safety-minded companies rely on advanced technology to address the problem at the dock. One such technology uses lights and an alarm to communicate the status of lift trucks inside the trailer. It can also enhance communication about the status of vehicle restraints to the lift truck operator, adding another level of protection against trailer-separation accidents. Another strategy is to use industrial safety barriers at the dock and well into shipping/receiving areas to help prevent serious pedestrian accidents.

• Dock seal fires

  It's been shown that heat buildup of trailer marker lights can cause burning of foam dock seal components, presenting severe safety and productivity hazards as well as costly product, equipment, building and trailer damage. Triple-layer foil heat-dissipation technology incorporated into dock seal head pads, head curtains and side pads can prevent seals from burning as a result of the concentrated heat source.

Go Greener

While safety takes precedence, there's always the need to save energy wherever possible. The dock is an excellent place to focus corporate sustainability efforts because basic measures can save tens of thousands of dollars in annual energy costs with relatively fast payback.

A good start is to invest in shelters that provide full access to trailer loads yet effectively seal the hinge gaps on either side of the open trailers parked at the dock. Also, consider dock leveler pit seals to prevent energy from escaping through open gaps beneath and around the dock leveler. Sealing these small gaps can save as much as $2,000 per year, per dock position, depending on climate.

Another source of energy loss is gaps around sectional dock doors and open spaces that form along the seams of dock levelers and dock pit walls. Energy-efficient weather seals can solve the problem with relative ease and low cost. Another option is to install vertical-storing levelers, which provide a high degree of control over interior humidity and temperature.