Loading dock: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Area of a building where goods are loaded and unloaded}}

{{moreMore footnotes needed|date=June 2014}}

[[File:Modern loading dock.jpg|alt=loading bay|300px|thumb|Modern loading bay with overhead door, dock leveller and dock shelter]]

A '''loading dock''' or '''loading bay''' is an area of a building where goods vehicles (usually road or rail) are loaded and unloaded. They are commonly found on commercial and industrial buildings, and [[warehouse]]s in particular. Loading docks are part of a facility's service or utility infrastructure, typically providing direct access to [[staging area]]s, storage rooms, and [[freight elevator]]s.<ref name="wbdg">{{cite web |author=Sophia Greenbaum |title=Whole Building Design Guide: Loading Dock |url=http://www.wbdg.org/design/loading_dock.php |access-date=2008-02-26 |publisher=[[National Institute of Building Sciences]]}}</ref>

[[File:Modern loading dock.jpg|alt=loading bay|300px|thumb|Modern loading bay with overhead door, dock leveller and dock shelter]]

Loading docks may be exterior, flush with the [[building envelope]], or fully enclosed. They are part of a facility's service or utility infrastructure, typically providing direct access to [[staging area]]s, storage rooms, and [[freight elevator]]s.<ref name="wbdg"/>

A '''loading dock''' or '''loading bay''' is an area of a building where goods vehicles (usually road or rail) are loaded and unloaded. They are commonly found on commercial and industrial buildings, and [[warehouse]]s in particular. Loading docks may be exterior, flush with the [[building envelope]], or fully enclosed. They are part of a facility's service or utility infrastructure, typically providing direct access to [[staging area]]s, storage rooms, and [[freight elevator]]s.<ref name="wbdg">{{cite web |author=Sophia Greenbaum |title=Whole Building Design Guide: Loading Dock |url=http://www.wbdg.org/design/loading_dock.php |access-date=2008-02-26 |publisher=[[National Institute of Building Sciences]]}}</ref>

==Basics==

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Loading docks can be hazardous areas with risks of falls, vehicle collisions, and equipment-related injuries. Implementing comprehensive safety measures is crucial to prevent accidents and ensure worker well-being. Key safety practices include:

==Safety==

There are many ways to prevent an accident at a loading dock. Different forms of safety preparation include dock lights, back-up lights, trailer restraints, wheel chocks, heavy duty rising roller barrier, safety gates and safety netting. There are many online courses for safety training, and it is very important to regularly audit equipment, making sure that it is correctly assembled and in good working order.

* Securing the area: Install guardrails to prevent falls from the dock edge, safety gates to control access to the loading area, and vehicle restraints to prevent trailer creep or premature departure.

* Enhancing visibility: Provide adequate lighting for clear sightlines, especially during nighttime operations. Use clear markings to designate pedestrian walkways and forklift zones. Install indicator lights to signal drivers when it is safe to approach or depart the dock.

* Maintaining equipment: Regularly inspect and maintain all loading dock equipment, including dock levelers, vehicle restraints, and forklift trucks, to ensure they are in good working order.

* Using [[personal protective equipment]] (PPE): Require workers to wear high-visibility vests to improve their visibility to forklift operators and drivers. Mandate safety footwear to protect against foot injuries and gloves for handling equipment and materials.

* Training workers: Provide comprehensive training on loading dock safety procedures, including safe forklift operation, proper use of equipment, and emergency protocols.

* Communicating clearly: Establish clear communication protocols between dock workers, forklift operators, and truck drivers to ensure coordinated and safe operations.

By prioritizing these safety measures, loading dock operators can create a safer working environment and minimize the risk of accidents.

==Components of Loading Docks==

A loading dock leveler is a piece of equipment which is typically mounted to the exterior dock face or recessed into a pit at a loading dock. Commonly referred to as “bridging the gap”, a dock leveler allows for the movement of [[Forklift|industrial vehicles]] (e.g. forklifts, [[Palletpallet jack|pallet jacks]]s) between a building and a [[Semi-trailer truck|transport vehicle]]. Because of the different heights and sizes of many freight and semi-trucks, a dock leveler is an all-encompassing fixed solution{{solution-buzzword inline|date=October 2019}} to fit varying transports, capacities and budgets.

Although there are many different types of dock levelers<ref>[http://www.mhi.org/free/36748 various applications]</ref> many share common components:

* Dock: Area of a warehouse or building where loading/unloading of transport vehicles takes place.

* Dock pit: Recessed opening in the building’sbuilding's floor which accommodates the pit-style dock leveler. Pits are commonly lined along the edges with reinforcing steel angles that are embedded in concrete.

* Shim: Steel plates used to help level pit-mounted dock levelers. Shims may be placed under the frame structure and welded in place to provide a structural load path to the foundation of the building.

* Frame: Supporting structure of a dock leveler.

* Deck: The deck assembly is the most visual aspect of the loading dock leveler. Driven and walked over often, most decks have an anti-skid surface such as a tread plate to provide traction at the various working angles. The deck assembly pivots at the back end furthest from the transport vehicle (or, more commonly, the dock door opening).

* Lip: The lip assembly is pivotally attached to the deck assembly at the end closest to the transport. Often stored when the leveler is not in use, or sometimes used as barrier protection for an industrial vehicle, the lip pivots from a vertical stored position onto the bed of the transport vehicle’svehicle's floor. Lips are operated either manually, by pull chain, or hydraulically with an electric pump driving a piston to lift the plate and move the lip.

* Toe guard: Protective shield mounted flush to the side of a dock assembly in order to prevent toe and foot injuries while dock leveler is above the dock.

* Activation system: Providing the motive power of the dock leveler, these systems can be mechanical (springs) pneumatic (air bladders) or hydraulic. They may or may not require external power interfaces, depending on the type of leveler.

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*{{Commons category-inline|Loading bays}}

* [http://www.mhi.org/lodem Loading Dock Equipment Manufacturers (LODEM)]

* [https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Proposed_features/Loading_dock_details#Voting Loading Dock Dimensional Tags]

[[Category:Freight transport]]