If you work at a loading dock, you’ve probably heard of phrases like Trailer Creep, Trailer Walk and Premature Departure. All of these can lead to costly accidents. A solution to these issues is vehicle restraints. But which kind is right for your dock? Traditional rubber wheel chocks aren’t as effective, and trailers can still creep or move – or even roll over the chock if enough pressure is exerted. Another option is adding restraints that secure a trailer’s Rear Impact Guard. But what about the trailers that have damaged Rear Impact Guards? What about trailers with lift gates or other obstructions that get between the vehicle restraint and RIG?
There are a few different options out there when it comes to wheel restraints. These include:
- Powered wheel restraints that use push-button activation, like the Safety-Chock. These will secure any type of vehicle, and can be interlocked and sequenced with your other loading dock equipment, like dock levelers and doors.
- Low-profile wheel restraints like the Universal Truck-Chock. These wheel restraints are installed in-ground, providing the ability to clear snow and debris around the loading dock area, yet still effectively restrain all types of vehicles. These restraints are ideal for northern climates that see a lot of snow in the winter.
- Manual wheel restraints like the Manual Safety-Chock. These are a more cost-effective solution for facilities, but are still easy to operate and keep your workers safe. A good manual wheel restraint will avoid chock pinch, and will be ergonomically-friendly for your workers.
Warehouse safety is a huge part of a company’s operation, and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Your workers should be able to safely unload and load any type of vehicle that pulls up to the dock, regardless of whether it has a lift gate or a Rear Impact Guard. Having a wheel restraint will help them do just that.