Dock Lifts are a great solution for keeping your water vehicle off the ground, protecting it from damage and making it easier to access. Recessed units are mounted within the face of the dock and mount on locating cradles and wear plates, bypassing the need to form a pit. This allows for level truck to dock and truck to ground loading.
In most warehouses and distribution centers, the loading dock area is the most hazardous part of a facility. This is because of the wide variety of hazards that can occur at a dock, including forklift-vehicle collisions, falls from elevated locations, and other accidents that occur as a result of confined space conditions and congested dock operations.
One way to reduce the frequency of these accidents is by installing a boat lift. In addition to making it easier to access your water vehicle, a dock lift can also increase safety by eliminating the need to walk across the icy or oily deck of a ship. This can help you avoid injuries and prevent the loss of valuable equipment due to slipping.
Boat lifts are easy to install and can be used with a variety of water vehicles and boats. They are also very versatile, allowing you to easily drive your boat up and down with the push of a button. You can even leave your boat in the dock lift when you aren’t using it to protect it from the elements.
The most important reason to use a dock lift is safety. Without a dock lift, your employees must manually move goods from the truck bed to ground level, which involves heavy lifting, twisting and turning that can lead to back and shoulder injuries. When you use a dock lift, workers are standing on a safe, level surface as goods are moved between the dock and the truck bed in seconds.
Integrated safety barriers also improve dock safety. These are designed to extend from the platform of a dock leveler, reserving a full width safety zone when the lift is raised. This prevents forklifts from contacting overhead door or track edges, and can help you comply with the NF EN 349 standard covering risks of crushing of persons.
Other features include dock lights that provide more visibility, and interlocks to prevent the cycle of a dock leveler from raising until the restraint arm is fully extended. Some models can also be paired with a telescoping ramp that can handle truck height variations, and some include a full-width dock lip barrier that prevents trailers from rolling off the dock when in the down position.
Flexibility
Dock lifts allow for more seamless transfer of materials between the warehouse floor and truck bed, which is quicker and more streamlined than traditional methods such as ramps. Additionally, dock lifts allow for a wider range of vehicles to be serviced, including pickup trucks and courier vans, up to the highest truck trailers on the road. This versatility reduces equipment needs, streamlines operations, and enhances productivity.
When selecting a dock lift, it is important to consider its maximum weight capacity and the vertical travel distance between the fully lowered and raised positions. You should also consider the platform size and actuation method. The platform size should be sufficient to accommodate your largest loads or pallet arrangements, and the actuation method should provide easy, user-friendly operation with minimal maintenance requirements.
Another consideration when selecting a dock lift is the height difference between your vehicle’s bed and the dock door. Ideally, you want to minimize this gap in order to prevent unnecessary strain and discomfort for your employees. In addition, a short vertical distance can be more efficient than a longer one, as it reduces the number of lift/lowering cycles required.
The most popular and effective dock lift solution is a hydraulic scissor dock lift. These lifts are available in a wide range of model configurations, platform sizes, and capacities for outside, inside, fixed-position or mobile use. They can be anchored at the dock edge or mounted to a wall, and are equipped with safety features such as emergency power unit operation, increased stability frame, multiple handrails and bollards.
For a more cost-effective option, there are also top-of-ground dock lifts that mount to a flat concrete pad without the need for a pit. These units are designed to withstand heavy truck impacts, and can be moved easily when not in use. They are also ideal for locations where the cost of forming a pit would be prohibitive, or where underground utility lines could be in the way of a recessed dock lift. These units can also be used with a forklift, and are capable of transferring loads between standard dock height and the ground.
Ease of Operation
Loading dock lifts are a valuable tool for enhancing safety, improving efficiency and facilitating the transfer of products between the loading dock and truck or trailer during the loading and unloading process. This equipment eliminates the need to transfer freight by hand from a tailgate equipped truck and greatly reduces labor costs, product damage, and lost time injuries. Dock lifts are available in various sizes and capacities to accommodate a variety of truck sizes and types from small step vans to large refrigerated reefers.
Unlike concrete ramps and truck well recesses, dock lifts are fully accessible to trucks of any size, reducing the need for personnel to enter and exit the vehicle by lowering the bed of the truck. They also enable the use of a wider range of loading equipment such as forklifts and pallet jacks and are far more cost efficient than truck tailgate installations.
The lifts are easy to operate and can be installed at ground level or mounted within the face of a dock wall (recessed units). They offer level loading at truck height without the need for a dock ramp or inclines and can handle a wide variety of trailers and cargo configurations.
It’s important to consider the maximum capacity of the lift when selecting a model. This is the maximum weight that can be safely transferred between dock and truck and includes the weight of the transport equipment and operator. It’s also important to know the axle load rating of any vehicles that might drive over a dock lift in the fully lowered position.
The standard controls for a dock lift are NEMA 4 push buttons, usually mounted on cords that can be lengthened to provide security options. Regardless of the control method, it is recommended that only the driver who will be using the lift ride should be controlling the up/down controls as doing so in any other way could lead to an accident. The remote power units for recessed models are mounted inside buildings while top of ground units have them located on the lifts and covered with weather protection.
Maintenance
Keeping a dock area safe for loading and unloading is a priority for most warehouse managers. They must ensure that forklift drivers and employees working with carts and pallets are not in harm’s way during this critical time of daily warehouse production. Dock lifts are designed to make this operation more efficient by allowing trucks to pull up to the dock and remain locked in place while product is loaded or unloaded.
To avoid injury to employees, it is important to perform regular inspections of dock lifts and their components. These inspections should include visual examination of the structure, checking for signs of wear and tear, corrosion or damage. In addition, lubrication of all moving parts is recommended. Applying marine-grade lubricant will reduce friction and increase longevity of the lift’s components.
Another crucial part of dock lift maintenance is cleaning and rinsing. Regular cleaning removes salt residue and extends the lifespan of a dock lift. Rinsing a lift with fresh water is also helpful in maintaining a clean appearance and reducing the risk of corrosion.
Dock lifts with cable systems are best maintained by rinsing the cables with fresh water after each use and applying a marine-grade lubricant to the sheaves/pulleys. Sheave/pulley lubrication should be performed at least every six months, or more often if sheaves and pulleys are subject to heavy use or if they experience excessive wear.
It is also essential to pay attention to any unusual noise or movement from a dock lift during use. Any squeaking, grinding or jerking motions may indicate a problem with the system that needs to be addressed. Identifying and addressing these issues promptly will prevent more serious problems and prolong the life of the lift.
For more in-depth maintenance, schedule a professional inspection of your dock lift at the start and end of each season. This will allow a qualified service technician to address any potential problems that you may not have been aware of during self-inspections or routine self-maintenance. A professional can also repair any components that have been damaged or worn, and ensure that all equipment is functioning as it should.
