Is your business missing the extra benefits of loading dock levelers or pit levelers in your warehouse and workplace? Have you had accidents in your dock area due to the uneven surface between the trailer and the dock? Whether you experience frequent loading and unloading or just have a few loads daily, safety is of the highest importance in loading dock areas.

Loading dock areas involve heavy loads, large vehicles, many moving parts, but can also have a lot of incoming and outgoing traffic. The shipping and receiving dock area can pose many hazards for your employees, your vendors, and any other parties involved. Beyond following OSHA safety standards and tips for safety on loading docks, you can achieve a greater level of safety in your loading dock area with loading dock safety equipment like loading dock levelers.

HOW DOCK LEVELERS WORK TO IMPROVE SAFETY IN YOUR LOADING DOCK AREA

Dock levelers can help create a better transfer between a trailer and the loading dock. It provides a smooth surface for forklifts and pallet jacks to maneuver more easily on when unloading and loading goods. When forklifts, pallet jacks, and other equipment are often required for loading and unloading, it ensures a much safer, smoother, and more efficient transfer of goods.

Loading dock areas are known to be one of the most hazardous areas in a warehouse or other business with a loading dock, and the most dangerous area is the gap between the loading dock and the trailer. When the surface between the trailer and the dock is uneven, hard to manage, and hard to operate a loading machine through, accidents can happen.

Goods may fall, be damaged, and injuries can happen – especially when loading and unloading heavy equipment or expensive goods. Accidents can cost your business in many different ways but, in the worst cases, death can happen.

DOCK LEVELER CAPABILITIES

Dock levelers help make your loading dock area safer and functioning optimally. They provide a variety of benefits and features, such as these three dock leveler features that increase efficiency. They are customized to fit your needs, have safety features like a built-in barrier or a safety stop, and have low maintenance costs.

There are many different types of levelers to fit your current dock. Additional safety features these levelers can come with include:

• A built-in barrier to prevent a forklift or other machine from accidentally falling over
• An automatic recycle to improve cross-traffic safety
• Safety features from free-fall protection, such as a velocity fuse safety stop or retractable support legs
• And more!

TYPES OF DOCK LEVELERS

The type of dock leveler, or pit leveler, that is right for your business and its needs depend on the size, style, and function of your loading dock area. It’s important to know the size of the trucks that load and unload at your facility, your load capacities, and the trailer dimensions when selecting dock levelers for your business.

Choose from a wide range of dock levelers at DACO, including hydraulic, mechanical, edge of dock, and more, with experts to help you make the right decision for your budget and your needs.

HYDRAULIC

A hydraulic dock leveler is a low-maintenance dock leveler. It is on the higher end price-wise, but it is automatically operated. The electrohydraulic system operates this leveler with a simple button push. They are kept and mounted in a pre-formed pit at your dock and come in a variety of sizes and weight capacities — up to 80,000 pounds.

MECHANICAL

A mechanical dock leveler is a simple, basic leveler that is manually operated by a pull chain. The operator stands on the leveler to control it, and it is a good option for low-traffic loading docks.

AIRLIFT

An airlift dock leveler is powered by air and an automatic airbag, which allows for a gentle ascent and descent in the dock and to the trailer. The airbag is held below the ramp and does require additional maintenance when compared to other styles.

VERTICAL

Commonly used in food processing and storage facilities, a vertical dock leveler, when not in use, is placed in a vertical position. When using, it is lowered automatically at a controlled pace to connect with the truck’s trailer bed. After the team is done loading/unloading the truck, the operator can raise it back upright with the press of a button. Edge of dock An edge of dock leveler is an economical option when a trailer bed and dock are not more than two inches apart. It is typically stored in a mounted position on the loading dock’s face. It is activated by the control button, which raises the lip, extends itself, and rests itself on the trailer bed.

LET US HELP YOU CREATE A SAFER LOADING DOCK AREA

DACO is dedicated to helping you create a safer loading dock area for your business, as well as everyone involved in shipping and receiving. Avoid accidents with your goods and your people before they happen and provide a better, more efficient workflow in your loading dock area with a leveler.

We’d love to help you choose the right leveler for your needs – an DACO team member is ready to help you today.