One of the more dangerous occupations in America, especially in the north in the winter, is working on a loading dock. As materials go in and out and doors are opened and closed, snow can get in and melt, causing slippery conditions. Here are some measures you can take to minimize your risk of injury on a loading dock in the winter.
Look for light—If there’s daylight coming through at any edge of the loading dock door, you run the risk that snow will come in. When a trailer is in place and the door is open, do a quick check to see if there are any gaps. If so, find a way to seal them.
Check the top first—More often than not, the imperfect seal will be at the top of the trailer. One suggestion is a head curtain, but you may be better served to find a product that uses weight and gravity to put a good seal on the top of the trailer.
Regularly inspect side seals—If you have foam compression side seals, you need to check them on a regular basis to ensure that they aren’t worn
Check the bottom, too—The bottom of a trailer can be a common source of infiltration. Consider the installation of an under-leveler pit seal that can eliminate cracks or gaps.
Spend the money on vertical-storing levelers—Though they cost more, they tend to be worth it. These types of levelers allow your loading dock door to close directly on the pit floor, the best way to avoid water and air from coming in.
Take action to minimize condensation—The difference in temperature inside and out can lead to condensation. You may even experience what is known as sweating slab syndrome, where the temperature of your slab on the loading dock is substantially different from the air temperature and causes moisture to collect. The best method to prevent this? —Install HVLS fans.
Contact the New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr
At the office of Harold J. Gerr, Attorney at Law, we have fought for the rights of personal injury victims in central New Jersey for more than four decades. We carefully choose the cases we handle, so that we can provide the highest levels of service and personal attention to each client. We are also happy to take over your case, if your first lawyer does not seem to have your best interests in mind.
To set us a free initial consultation, send us an e-mail or call our office at 732-537-8570.
