The Isosceles Group
  • Home
    • COVID-19 Statement
  • Services
    • Regulatory Compliance
    • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Business & Human Rights
    • Facility Management
    • Fractional EHS Management
    • EHS International Project Management
    • Asset Management
    • Emergency & Disaster Management
    • Workplace Bullying & Wellness
    • Privacy and Security >
      • Security Policy
      • Website Privacy Policy
      • Client/Contractor Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • Protocols
  • Products
  • News
  • EHS Blogs
    • Regulatory Compliance
    • Facility Management
  • Contact

Fall Protection & Workplace Safety on Loading Docks

2/10/2015

7 Comments

 

Our Recommendation

Picture
Recently, a client asked us if fall protection railings are required on a loading dock that is more than four feet high. Our answer may surprise you.

After a comprehensive review of several documents, including proposed OSHA rules and publications, we advised our client to install railings on loading docks that are six feet (1.8 meters) or higher. While we still recommend railings on loading docks that are shorter than six feet, the railing must be installed in such a way as not to impede workflow. Finally, personnel working on a loading dock must have adequate fall prevention training—and no one should be on the loading dock unless absolutely necessary. In other words, the loading dock is not an appropriate place to take a cigarette or coffee break.

Relevant OSHA Regulations

The OSHA General Duty Clause. Employers will furnish “a place of employment … free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.” This is the duty of care required of all employers and is relied upon when an OSHA regulation lacks clarity or detail. It is also the reason we recommend that our clients consider installing chains or railings on any active loading dock.

OSHA 1910.178(m)(6) Powered Industrial Trucks.
This regulation requires that “a safe distance shall be maintained from the edge of ramps or platforms while on any elevated dock.” However, it does not define that safe distance.

OSHA 1917.112 (b)(1), Marine Terminals, Guarding of Edges.
“Guardrails shall be provided at locations ... which present a hazard of falling more than 4 feet or into the water.” However, it goes on to say, “Guardrails are not required at loading platforms and docks.”

Other Relevant Guidelines

OSHA Publication 3220-10N, 2004 Pocket Guide Worker Safety Series Warehousing. This publication comes closest to addressing the question directly:  “areas that employees could fall 4 feet or more or walk off should be chained off, roped off or otherwise blocked.” However, the use of the term “should” indicates that this is a guideline, not a requirement.

OSHA Proposed Rulemaking on Walking and Working Surfaces: April 1990. Published but never fully adopted, this proposal was referenced in a December 1997 Standards Interpretation letter and states: “employers would not be required to install guardrail systems on the working side of platforms, such as loading docks, where the employer can demonstrate that the presence of guardrails would prevent the performance of work.”

OSHA Proposed Standard for Walking-Working Surfaces (May 2010). The proposed standard indicates that guarding is needed on loading docks for heights of 4 feet or more, unless people work an undefined distance away from the edge. But there is an exception. If guardrails are infeasible, work may be done without guardrails if the work is in process, only authorized employees have access, and authorized employees are trained.

ANSI Standard A12.1264.1 Safety Requirements for Workplace Floor, Wall Openings, Stairs + Railings. The American National Standards Institute states that loading docks are an exception for requiring fall protection. 
Picture

Resource

THE BULLETIN: Fall Protection & Workplace Safety on Loading Docks. A one-page review of the rules, regulations and guidelines related to fall prevention and loading dock safety.
7 Comments
Ben Chinwah link
5/9/2016 06:21:28 am

Very Scholastic piece... This blog proves to be very valuable for me. I love to gather information regarding health and safety at workplace so that I can apply these rules in my workstation, thus making my construction working environment free from mishaps and legal fines.
Keep it up...

Reply
Ellie Puckett
9/7/2018 08:48:16 am

I would like to thank you for sharing such a nice and useful article about the OSHA safety regulation for the warehouse. Safety guidelines provided by the OSHA should be strictly followed to minimize the possibilities of accidents and subsequent product loss. Undermining the importance of such guidelines could be very dangerous and could cost a lot of money. So, it is really essential to conduct a safety audit to identify and repair abnormal components in time. Damaged components of the pallet racking system should be replaced with suitable substitutes to prevent their breakdown.
For pallet rack installations visit:

http://racksourceinc.com/services.html


Reply
Katie Cooks link
11/22/2020 11:11:25 pm

Great read thaankyou

Reply
workplace prevention and safety services link
2/7/2023 03:02:06 pm

Hey! This is great, and I really find your blog very helpful. Thanks for all of your blogging tips. They really do help! PCS Safety Inc. is your one-stop resource for a wide variety of safety and health solutions. We offer a breadth of services that help you navigate through the complexities of safety compliance.Call us today at (602) 899-9477!

Reply
Safety Compliance California link
2/10/2023 01:37:54 pm

I really enjoy reading your posts where I can get such useful information. Thanks for all your advice. It’s invaluable! At PCS Safety, Inc., we feel that Cal OSHA would much rather let employers take time to hire a good health and safety consultant. The highly experienced professional consultant must know what the standards are and how these standards are being enforced in the field. Call us today at (602) 899-9477

Reply
OSHA Right to Know Training link
3/9/2023 04:42:21 pm

PCS Safety Inc. is your one-stop resource for a wide variety of safety and health solutions. We offer a breadth of services that help you navigate through the complexities of safety compliance. Call us today at (866) 413-4103!Hey! This is great, and I really find your blog very helpful. Thanks for all of your blogging tips. They really do help! PCS Safety Inc. is your one-stop resource for a wide variety of safety and health solutions. We offer a breadth of services that help you navigate through the complexities of safety compliance. Call us today at (866) 413-4103!

Reply
Forklift training certification link
3/17/2023 03:43:13 pm

This is just some kind of brilliant! I never would have thought to search for other bloggers this way. I’m so gonna do this! Thanks for the tip! Forklift training certification ensures that operators of this heavy equipment possess the knowledge, capability, and safety benchmarks related to their job. All certification programs must adhere to standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Under federal and state laws, there are two essential requirements to get this certification.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Search Regulatory Compliance Blog


    Browse by Topic

    All
    Air Quality
    Batteries
    Chemical Handling & Management
    Consultation
    Emergency Response And Disaster Management
    Emerging Issues
    Employee Well Being
    Environmental Emergencies
    Facility Management
    General Environmental
    General Health & Safety
    GHG Emissions
    GHS
    Hazardous Chemical/Substance Management
    Miscellaneous
    POPs
    PPE
    REACH
    THE BULLETIN
    Waste Management
    Wastewater Discharge
    Water Resources
    WEEE
    Workplace Bullying
    Workplace Environment & Controls
    Workplace Safety

    RSS Feed

    Browse Archives

    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    June 2015
    February 2015
    March 2014
    November 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

The Isosceles Group

361 Newbury Street, #503
Boston, MA 02115
Tel. 617.330.2800


Privacy Policy
The Isosceles Group is a Proud Supporter of

Connect with us

  • Home
    • COVID-19 Statement
  • Services
    • Regulatory Compliance
    • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Business & Human Rights
    • Facility Management
    • Fractional EHS Management
    • EHS International Project Management
    • Asset Management
    • Emergency & Disaster Management
    • Workplace Bullying & Wellness
    • Privacy and Security >
      • Security Policy
      • Website Privacy Policy
      • Client/Contractor Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • Protocols
  • Products
  • News
  • EHS Blogs
    • Regulatory Compliance
    • Facility Management
  • Contact