Forklift Falls from Loading Docks Expert Article

A forklift falling from a loading dock can cause significant injuries or death. Two of the most common causes of these incidents that we see in our forensic casework involve either an unsecured trailer that rolls away from the dock, or a tractor trailer driver who pulls away before work in the trailer has been completed. Industry often refers to these as “unexpected or early departure incidents.”

This article explores the industry standard of care for properly controlling the hazards associated with these incidents.

Loading Dock Unexpected or Early Departure Incidents

The responsibility to prevent these types of incidents primarily falls on the facility. Facilities must have appropriate procedures and processes that they establish, train their employees on, and ensure are followed when working in trailers. 

While the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) govern the safety of commercial vehicles in interstate commerce, the safety of workers in and around vehicles at off-highway facilities falls under the purview of OSHA.

OSHA regulation 1910.178 provides guidance on powered industrial trucks (forklifts). Regarding unexpected and early departure incidents, section (k)(1) states that:

“The brakes of highway trucks shall be set and wheel chocks placed under the rear wheels to prevent the trucks from rolling while they are boarded with powered industrial trucks.”

There are several effective methods to prevent trucks and trailers from prematurely moving away from loading docks.

Wheel Chocks

A wheel chock is the basic device used to prevent vehicles from rolling away from a dock. A typical wheel chock used at facilities will have a chain attached to it and be secured to the facility so that they remain accounted for and available for use.

Upgraded wheel chocks have handles and sometimes signs, so a driver looking in their mirror can easily see that there is a wheel chock in place and warehouse workers can also easily spot the wheel chock when they inspect the trailer prior to beginning work in the trailer.

While a properly placed wheel chock will prevent a truck from rolling, it will not prevent a truck from being driven away by a driver. A facility will need to have additional procedures in place to ensure the driver can’t pull away while the trailer is being worked in.

Vehicle Restraint Systems

There are two main types of vehicle restraint systems: a dock lock that secures the ICC bumper of the trailer to the dock, and a wheel restraint system that goes in between the trailer tires to prevent the movement of the trailer.

These systems can be expensive depending on how many docks a facility has, and they require ongoing inspection and maintenance to ensure they are functioning properly.

Glad Hand Locks

Glad hand locks, also known as safety locks, prevent the air line of the trailer from being connected to a tractor (truck). Because the airbrake systems used in trailers rely on air pressure to release the brakes, the glad hand lock essentially keeps the brakes locked in the ON position. 

Administrative/Policy Controls        

Independently or in conjunction with the above methods, there are various procedural requirements that facilities can implement to prevent unexpected or early departure incidents.

Some facilities require truck drivers to disconnect the tractor from the trailer. Some facilities take the keys from the driver or have the drivers stay in a waiting room/area where they can be monitored so they can’t drive away.

Facilities must inform truck drivers of their policies and procedures, have a way to ensure that trucks can’t move away from the dock, and must train their employees to verify that the trailer is safe to enter prior to starting to load or unload the trailer.

Loading Dock Expert Witness Investigations

The Commercial Trucking Experts at Robson Forensic have decades of experience in the trucking/transportation industry. All are CDL licensed drivers who moved into the safety and compliance departments and became safety managers and safety directors for Motor Carriers across the United States. These experts use their countless miles of driving experience and management/oversight work to examine every facet of a trucking incident investigation.

For more information, submit an inquiry or call us at 800.813.6736.

Featured Expert

Jeffrey A. Boesger

Commercial Trucking Expert

Jeffrey Boesger is a Commercial Transportation Expert with 30+ years of experience in trucking, distribution, transportation management, trucking and warehousing safety, regulatory compliance, and… read more.