Loading Dock Risk Reduced with a Forklift Safety System
In looking at some loading dock data before everything went flat in 2020, we found that in 2018 loading docks handled about 18.6 billion tons of goods worth about $19 trillion. This are statistics from the Bureau of Transportation. As we look at safety on the loading dock during this same timeframe, there were about 6,600 workers absent from the workplace due to injuries. Is it possible to make safety on the loading dock safer? Can technology have an impact in making safety on the loading dock better? Let’s take a closer look.
What is Safety on the Loading Dock?
Collisions are a constant challenge for safety on the loading dock as lift trucks are constantly entering and exiting. Many safety measures have been offered and implemented such as speed limits, painting of edges, designating spaces for staging and even increased lighting for better visibility. But what can help when there’s trailer creep, meaning when the truck and the trailer move ever so slightly away from the dock due to movement? Does the driver always put restraints behind the tires? The answer is both yes and no… unfortunately.
Can a Forklift Safety System Help?
Everyone thinks that a forklift safety system is good for warehouses where there are aisles and workers around. A forklift safety system can be the solution for safety on the loading dock too! Here’s how.
When the forklift driver gets to the dock, a digital checklist comes up on the forklift safety system in order to complete a few to a series of questions. These questions can be to check if the chocks have been put in place, if the plate between the dock and trailer is in place, if the landing gear is secure, the staging areas are clear and whatever else you would like to add.
After the answers are complete, and the surroundings are safe to begin, now the lift truck can begin entering and exiting the trailer safely. However, that’s not the end of it.
Is it a Good Bump or Bad Bump?
The forklift safety system can be ‘taught’ the normal bumps of the loading dock so the AI based forklift safety system doesn’t report on false positives. Once this is understood, if there is a change in that bump, then it will notify with forklift operator with an audio and visual warning that something has changed. Now that the driver knows that something has changed, the driver can inspect the area and make the necessary changes to ensure safety.
Pedestrians and Objects in the Path?
Once again, being able to identify pedestrians and objects is critical for safety on the loading dock. As the forklift enters and exits, it will constantly scan at 60ms searching for people or objects within the pre-defined path. This will help ensure that the operator can take action before an accident occurs. The same way as the bumps work, the SIERA.AI S3 will identify a person or an object and with the alerts, inform the operator of which one it is… a person or object. Now the operator can take action.
How Often is this Happening?
That’s where the telemetry Dashboard takes over. It collects the data from the forklift safety system and reports all of the information so action can be taken. This data will help safety managers better understand the workings of the area and take corrective action to reduce the amount of hazards in the area.
Contact Us!
Contact us today at sales@siera.ai or call us at (512) 817 0702.