In January 2017, a series of rules and regulations promulgated by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) pertaining to walking-working surfaces and fall protection standards were enacted. The rule affects a wide range of workers, including warehouse workers. Specific to warehouse workers, new rules pertaining to loading dock equipment were enacted. The new rule specific to loading dock equipment is outlined in 29 CFR 1910,26, “Dockboards.” The new rules impose new requirements on employers who operate loading docks to either equip dockboards with run-off guards or to demonstrate that there is no hazard of transfer vehicles from running off the dockboard edge. This document summarizes how an employer could apply American National Standards pertaining to loading dock equipment to demonstrate that hazards pertaining to run-off are adequately addressed.

THE ESSENTIALS OF MATERIAL HANDLING: PART II SECTION 2: IN PLANT INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS MODULE 2.3 DOCK EQUIPMENT - This module of the essentials of material handling series helps the reader achieve three learning objectives; to obtain a basic understanding of the role of the loading dock in the complete material handling system, to become familiar with the various categories of equipment in use in the loading dock area, and to be able to select and apply the best specific piece of loading dock equipment for a given application.

This precautionary label brochure has been prepared by the Loading Dock Equipment Manufacturers Product Section (hereafter referred to as “LODEM”) of the Material Handling Industry of America. It has been created as a service to owners, users, designers and specifiers of loading dock levelers. The purpose of this publication is to provide voluntary guidelines for the selection and application of safety labels for use on loading dock levelers. This is a voluntary guide and should be incorporated into a comprehensive safety program by owners of loading dock levelers.