Slips trips and falls safety talk
Slips, trips, and falls are the highest occurring injury across all industries. This is no different for employee driving trucks. Something as simple as getting into and out of the cab of the truck multiple times a day increases these odds. A simple misstep could lead to a serious injury. Here are some tips to avoid these common injuries.
Loading dock safety:
- Ensure that lock devices are in place each time before beginning to unload at a dock
- Be mindful of marked and unmarked walkways, barriers, parking and doorways that might be a trip hazard
- Make sure any available dock barricades are in place on edges of the dock; if not available, note the areas and avoid getting too close
- Do not take part in dock jumping which can lead to knee, ankle and back injury
- Ensure that dock plates or boards are in good condition and are intended for the load amounts that will be used
Housekeeping:
- Ensure docking areas have good housekeeping with no excess tripping hazards
- Do an inspection of truck and trailer floors before loading or unloading
- Watch out for areas of concern such as oil spots, broken pallets, debris and loose or missing handrails; quickly pick up and clean the area if needed before loading or unloading
Three points of contact:
- Be sure to have three points of contact with feet and hands when entering or exiting the cab or trailer
- Use designated railing and steps when doing so
- Use the three-point rule when climbing onto a tarped load as well, when possible use a fall restraint system