Safeguarding Railcar Loading Docks: FAQS
Preserve Aisle Space and Protect Employees
SITUATION: This paper manufacturer of office paper, cups, and lids wanted to upgrade the safety along the railcar docks at its numerous facilities but was concerned that a heavy duty barrier would compromise aisle space.
SOLUTION: Designed for installation only 16” from a dock edge, the heavy duty Rail Dock Safety Barriers provided a relentless barrier. The company was able to preserve critical aisle space and achieve lifting, stacking, and moving efficiencies of the patented Rail Dock Safety Barriers.
Safety Barriers Keep Paper Manufacturing on Track
SITUATION: This Fortune 500 manufacturer of napkins, paper plates, and paper towels, lacked confidence in its rail dock barrier’s ability to protect personnel and forklifts against falls. The company sought a more dynamic design than required by OSHA for guarding 4 ft. drop-offs.
SOLUTION: An army of Rail Dock Safety Barriers were deployed along their railcar docks. Despite a slightly higher investment over commodity barriers, Dockshield’s exclusive safety features restored the company’s confidence:
- Forklift operator remains on the vehicle with out manual engagement to lift units
- Safety railings at three heights (12” forklift, 24” mid-rail, and 42” pedestrian)
- Heavy duty protection, yet simple lifting, stacking, and maneuvering by forklift
Q: How can I guard the 4 ft. drop-off next to an indoor rail dock or indoor flatbed dock?
A: There are many offerings on the market that claim to safeguard rail loading docks, such as yellow caution paint, floor guards, and mesh railing. The Dockshield Removable Forklift Barriers is a premium rail dock barrier system that provides countless linear feet of forklift and personnel safety.
Q: How can I reduce the hazards involved with employees removing and replacing safety systems at the rail car dock?
A: The Dockshield system is designed with lifting mechanisms, so when the barriers need to be removed or set back into place, all this is done using the power of a forklift and not manually be employees.
Q: How do barriers help safety managers comply with OSHA pedestrian fall protection standards?
A: When it comes to employee fall protection, OSHA requirements and codes can be vague. Dockshield heavy-duty steel forklift impact barriers feature three guardrails that exceeds OSHA code, and are easily removable, movable, and stackable by a forklift. They fend off forklift and pedestrian falls, and feature a patented lifting mechanism that keeps forklift operators on their equipment during barrier removal.
Q: How is the Dockshield Barrier installed?
A: This rail dock safety barrier features an embedded sleeve that is installed into to the building floor to create solid ground support by transferring load impact forces to the concrete. The sleeves are flush to the floor to ensure that employees won’t trip on them when the barriers are removed.
Q: Won’t these barriers take up valuable aisle space?
A: For rail docks, Dockshield Removable Forklift Barriers are designed for installation 16” from the rail dock edge, maintaining precious floor space within the aisle.
Q: How or where are the barriers stored?
A: The barriers are completely stackable, so forklifts can easily lift them and adhere them to another Dockshield barrier installed into the floor.
Q: Are there safer options for unloading boxcars at rail sidings?
A: Mobile yard ramps can be positioned at the side of boxcars for outdoor unloading.
Dockzilla’s Rail Yard Ramps are specially-designed freight loading ramps that accommodate the wider side access of boxcars with self-supporting safety legs, wheel chocks, and safety chains that enable forklift drivers to focus on traversing the ramp with their heavy loads.
For more information on Dockshield Removable Forklift Barriers.
Additional information on Dockshield can be found here.
