Partners in Prime: The Importance of Safety and Efficiency in Dock Equipment

Loading docks are a lot like mixed traffic streets. At first glance, they seem like the products of pure chaos, with pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists all weaving by one another without much supervision. However, so long as everyone involved practices patience and common courtesy, these streets can function smoothly and securely.

When it comes to loading docks, the equivalent to this involves investing in dock equipment. With the help of these essential tools, unruly loading docks can be transformed into well-oiled machines where both safety and efficiency are prioritized. Sadly, not all dock equipment is guaranteed to give businesses a boost in either of these categories. When browsing for gear, keeping an eye out for certain features is key in order to give a loading dock the upgrade it deserves.

Safety First (And Next, And Last, And Always)

Loading dock areas are naturally dangerous, thanks to the abundance of heavy-duty goods and workers that flow through them daily. Because of the constant hustle and bustle, it’s easy for hazards to emerge and go mostly unnoticed. Some examples of hazards include low lighting conditions, slippery surfaces, improper lifting, and many more. All these hazards can easily lead to slips, trips, and falls, which account for nearly 25% of all warehouse accidents, according to a recent study.

Investing in the proper dock equipment can do wonders to dampen the risks that come with working on a loading dock. Here are some examples of gear designed to prevent accidents from endangering workers, products, and truck drivers:

• Vehicle restraints
• Dock bumpers
• Safety barriers for fall protection
• Adequate lighting systems
• Dock levelers
• Wheel chocks

When on the hunt for equipment, try to focus on items that meet at least one regulatory standard. Examples include ANSI and OSHA guidelines, which should reassure most of how capable they are. Businesses should be looking far beyond these baseline offerings, though. Some extra safety features that one might see in dock equipment include anti-slip surfaces, padded edges, toe guards, and more. Barron Equipment isn’t willing to compromise when it comes to the quality of gear they stock. They go out of our way to stock tools that sport the most safety features possible, all of which can be found in their product descriptions and under the “certifications” tab. When looking to prevent workplace injuries, “too many safety features” isn’t a phrase that should come to mind.

A Better, Faster, More Efficient Loading Dock

Making a loading dock more efficient is universally appealing to dock owners. Much like how it excels at providing much-needed safety features, dock equipment is an essential investment for companies looking to make their docks more productive. Considering just how many types of equipment exist, it can be counted on to streamline a variety of tasks. Lifting, stacking, repositioning, the list goes on.

While tasks like lifting and repositioning may seem minor, every little bit counts when trying to make a dock more efficient. For example, by investing in a turntable to aid in repositioning cargo, a business will end up shaving off a ton of time in the long run that would’ve been spent reorienting pallets by hand. Sticking to a regular maintenance schedule is another way to keep a dock in top form, as making sure gear is always tuned up keeps it from breaking down and causing delays. iDock Controls are a prime example of gear that can be counted on to supercharge productivity on a loading dock. When installed, the system consolidates the controls for a variety of equipment types into one panel, allowing for vehicle restraints, levelers, and doors to be adjusted from a single location.

Features to Focus on When Looking for Dock Equipment

Now that the benefits of focusing on safety and efficiency when buying dock equipment have been defined, it’s time to break down the features that make these values achievable. Firstly, pay attention to the materials used in the equipment itself. These can vouch for their overall quality, which will naturally have a major impact on its safety and efficiency-related traits. In the case of cargo netting, the materials used give it the strength needed to keep their mesh from tearing and causing products to become projectiles for employees to dodge.

Seeking out dock equipment with more robust tech can also help fulfill the universal dream of balancing safety and efficiency. Instead of settling for a standard dock leveler, buying one that operates automatically can prevent someone from having to serve as an attendant. This not only helps the attendant avoid injury, but it also frees them up to perform other tasks while the leveler does its thing. Barron Equipment is always keeping an ear to the ground when it comes to innovations in dock equipment. For example, their dock levelers sport a myriad of sophisticated safety and efficiency features like folding and locking toe guards. Some other examples of cutting-edge products on offer from Barron include the Poweramp TPR Series Automatic Restraint and the Fairborn Series 3500 Flexible Dock Shelter.

Considering how essential maintenance is in keeping equipment up-to-code, making sure the gear being purchased is easy to tune up is another must. If a dock leveler isn’t built to be easily maintained, the more prone it’ll be to malfunctioning. At best, these kinks can impede the flow of a loading dock and cost precious time. At worst, they could cause serious harm to workers and products. Either way, when gear isn’t being kept in top condition, it always results in precious time and money getting flushed down the drain.

Narrowing It All Down

Once a business has their eye on a few pieces of equipment, landing on one that checks every box is easier said than done. To help make this decision simpler, one should conduct thorough comparisons and find the one that strikes the best balance between safety and efficiency possible. Take a close look at their materials, certifications, and features. Even if not every desired perk is included, the equipment can be trusted to meet both standards to the best of its ability.

Businesses should also be keeping tabs on the many vendors in the dock equipment field so they can settle on the best partner for them. Discovering a reliable vendor will grant the confidence needed to keep coming back to them for all kinds of purchases in the long term. If they take their dock equipment seriously, it’s likely that they apply the same mindset to everything else they provide. Also, double-check to see if the vendor allows equipment to be customized before the checkout process. If so, this should simplify the selection process further by allowing businesses to choose the exact features they want from their gear.

Scheduled Maintenance: What, Why, and How?

Barron Equipment believes regularly inspecting and maintaining equipment is one of the best things that can be done to keep it in peak condition whilst preventing unnecessary spending. According to a study conducted by Nova Technology, scheduled maintenance can result in a reduction in maintenance costs between the range of 15% to 98%. Regarding performance, the study goes on to claim that steady maintenance results in a 35% to 45% reduction in downtime and a 65% to 95% reduction in defects. The results are in, and they’ve made one point crystal clear: workers, wallet, and dock equipment will all equally benefit from scheduled maintenance.

Flexibility comes first when Barron sets up a maintenance schedule for a client. Regardless of how busy they are or whether their equipment is from Barron or not, they’ll work with the client on finding the best time to tune up their gear. This should be made even easier once their scheduled maintenance app is out in the wild, so stay tuned! The process itself is exhaustive, as they ensure no part goes unevaluated. With a dock leveler, for instance, their engineers inspect every facet for damage and deterioration. They’ll meticulously clean what they analyze and mark which parts need replacing as they go. Fluid levels are checked, oil is applied, and all other kinks are addressed before they can become major problems. Staying one step ahead of any issues might seem costly, but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to how much is usually spent in the event of equipment completely breaking down.

Conclusion

Danger and disorder aren’t factors that should be tolerated when managing a loading dock. When seeking out the right equipment for the job, businesses should keep their eyes peeled for a few key details that might give it an edge over the other candidates. These could take the form of a variety of certifications or the ability to function automatically. Also, don’t underestimate the value of sticking to a maintenance schedule. It could mean the difference between running like a well-oiled machine and wasting tens of thousands of dollars on replacing broken equipment.

If a business decides to let Barron Equipment fulfill all their dock equipment needs, they can expect the following services:

• Thorough site evaluations
• Professional installation services
• Equipment recommendations
• Long-term maintenance support
• 24/7 emergency service availability

For answers to any lingering questions on Barron Equipment or how their offerings tower above the rest, give them a call, shoot them an email, or check out their website.

This post is guest written by Carson Wade

Carson Wade is a content writer at Barron Equipment, where he creates vibrant, eye-catching copy for blogs, product pages, and more. Previously, he served as the marketing copywriter for TapOnIt.