If you live outside of a big city, then you’ve probably seen a series of headlines at least once. These news stories will discuss a big factory coming to town and offering lots of jobs, or a factory closing down and how the local economy will be affected. Warehouses, factories, and other industrial buildings are a big shot in the arm for the local economy in small towns and mid-sized cities. These can create hundreds or even thousands of jobs. However, this means that some people can be equipment of the tools that help dock workers. People think of a futuristic world where jobs are outsourced to robots. Science fiction works such as the novels by Isaac Asimov and William Gibson have only furthered this perception. We think that equipment meant to help the worker is actually a step towards automating those tasks and eventually removing the human element. This means that people can have a hostile attitude towards technology, especially in the small towns that rely on factories and warehouses to create jobs. However, you can rest assured that dock equipment is a friend and ally to the dock worker – not a replacement. Here’s the reasons why this equipment makes an industrial employee’s life easier.
The Equipment ‘Evens Out’ the Differences in Each Loading Bay
Warehouses, factories, and any building with a loading dock are not built to anyone standard. This is problematic in and of itself, but the issue goes farther than that. Different trucks have different sizes and dimensions as well, meaning that two trucks can have totally different distances from the loading bay. Add in the fact that a truck’s distance from the loading bay changes when there is a great deal of cargo within it. All of these factors can lead to a wildly inconsistent gap between the loading bay and the trucks. This is a huge factor in employee safety and efficiency, and it’s not something that can be fixed without dock equipment. Luckily, dock levellers and other pieces of gear do the job perfectly. Whereas transferring cargo across the gap without equipment requires a keen eye, nearly perfect movement, and a lot of luck, using the right equipment allows the transfer to go smoothly and quickly. A frustrating job that can have big consequences becomes much more straightforward.
Get the Job Done Without Damaging Cargo and Causing Other Issues
When industrial employees have to work in an environment without dock levellers and other pieces of equipment to bridge the gap, they’re at risk. For a moment, consider the fast paced environment of a warehouse and the requirements that the workers have to meet. Without the proper set up, you’re going to end up with people making mistakes. When the gap isn’t bridged, the cargo is likely to get banged up and damaged. This is a big deal for a company and can seriously affect the bottom line.
The Right Equipment Preserves the Health of Your Employees
There’s a more serious consequence to consider, however, and that is employee health. When you’re working without dock equipment, you have a dangerous work environment. Employees are forced to take measures that can hurt their physical health. There are two types of injuries that come from this scenario. The first is low level but chronic wear and tear that comes from the repetitive motions of warehouse work without using the proper form or having back up. Shoulders, wrists, neck, the back, your waist, and knees can suffer pain and tightness. This low level pain leads to small injuries that build up over time. You may have a torn rotator cuff here, or a pulled muscle in your back there. However, the second kind of injury is worse – a sudden catastrophe that leads to a serious, long term disability. If you’re a warehouse employee, either of these situations can lead to lost wages, lost job, a disability, or even the end of your career. This is why the right equipment is mandatory for any warehouse, factory, or industrial environment.
Dock Equipment Gives a Business a Bright, Smooth Path to Success
More than just dock levelers are available for the warehouse employee. While these are the largest and most prominent pieces of equipment, there are several other things that are much smaller. Dock lights, for instance, are set up to give dock workers better visibility and make things nice and safe. Without these lights, it’s difficult to spot things and the work is sloppier as a result. Dock bumpers are another useful tool. When the truck backs up, hitting the wall is a good way to cause damage to the truck, the wall, and even the cargo. A bumper absorbs the blow and makes sure everything is nice and safe. Without these protective measures, workers are at greater risk for injury as well as mental stress. Finally, wheel chocks are small and inexpensive devices that serve and incredibly useful purpose. These chocks go under the tires of a truck waiting to receive cargo. The truck then remains stationary with no sliding forwards or rolling back as the workers go about their job. Again, this lowers the chance of injury and gives the work consistency and ease for the employees. These are all examples of how the right equipment helps the warehouse employee do their job.
Small towns and mid sized cities have their economies flourish due to warehouses, factories, and other industrial businesses. These people often treat the idea of mechanical equipment with some suspicion, as it seems like it is the first step towards a future where warehouse tasks are automated. Don’t worry about this idea. This equipment is not meant to replace the job of the warehouse employee. Instead, it’s supposed to make them safe and keep them prepared to handle their workload. No matter how tough or smart they are, no warehouse employee can do the job on their own. The equipment is a great way to solve many problems and make things easier for them.
