LOADING BAYS AND DOORS E
mployee safety is paramount in every industry. For logistics operations juggling
unprecedented customer demand with significant numbers of new employees, safety is now a major business issue – especially in high- risk areas such as the loading bay. According to Great Britain’s health and safety
body, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), there are 13 fatalities and 26,000 non-fatal injuries per year within the UK transportation and storage industry. And with a high percentage of accidents happening in or around the loading bay, it is considered one of the most dangerous areas. As Wouter Satijn, Sales Director at Joloda Hydraroll, explains, continually reviewing, improving and implementing the best working practices, while also promoting employee well-being, is the key to optimising logistics operations and getting more goods on the road.
ESCALATING SAFETY CONCERNS The transportation sector has experienced tremendous growth in recent years. Consumer demand has accelerated across industries, with world trade in goods and services amounting to US $22 trillion in 2020. At the heart of every logistics operation lies the loading bay. As thousands of new logistics drivers and packers take up newly created roles to keep up with demands, it is more important than ever for employers to understand the challenges involved in logistics and in the safe loading and unloading of goods.
Of course, this is a highly regulated industry:
logistics operations must adhere to strict health and safety regulations. But a good working environment is also key to employee morale, which is a crucial factor in retention. With higher than usual levels of staff turnover, ensuring everyone understands the dangers is vital. This is especially important in working environments using heavy machinery to move large packages and products, or where hazardous materials are being unloaded or loaded. Accidents can easily happen, especially in the loading bay – so how can businesses identify and mitigate these risks?
WHAT ARE THE RISKS? The economic cost of workplace injury is estimated at more than £800m. The challenge for logistics operations is the diversity of both the risks and causes of injury. For example, falls off the edge of the dock can be a result of slippery floors, a lack of removable barriers or distractions. Heavy machinery can fall forward if wheels are not properly chocked. And poor communication from drivers – or engines left on during the loading process – can also lead to injury. In addition, these procedural errors can create other
PRIORITISING SAFETY IN THE LOADING BAY
Wouter Satijn Sales Director Joloda Hydraroll
dangers, such as gaps opening between vehicles and loading bays. Organisations can overcome these risks by
implementing robust safety practices across the loading area – and the first place to start is identifying dangers.
RISK ANALYSIS A comprehensive risk analysis is essential. Indeed it is a legal requirement. This robust process should determine the specific threats within the organisation’s loading bay(s). Taking a walk around the space and considering what employees will be doing day-to-day can quickly highlight potential dangers. Are floors kept clear? Are there any overhead electric cables and, if so, is there any risk of a chance touch or electricity jumping to ‘earth’ through machinery, loads, or people? It is also important to review recent health and
20 JUNE 2022 | FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS
safety incidents to identify particular problems that are occurring. This helps to understand the risks from an employee perspective. What tasks are they struggling to complete safely? Are the same injuries occurring frequently? Forklift truck usage is one area of particular concern – on average, they are involved in about a quarter of all workplace transport accidents. Having determined current safety issues, the
next step is to introduce appropriate mechanical solutions for safety, warning signs, training, and electrical safety.
AUTOMATED LOADING SYSTEMS With so many injuries caused by the use of equipment such as forklift trucks, it is well worth considering the role loading systems can play in improving workforce safety. Automated loading systems are built to speed up a standard
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