Reducing the risks at loading bays – how do you ensure your cargo isn’t exposed to unnecessary risks?
When it comes to docking environments, effectively bridging the gap between loading bay and vehicle is an everyday challenge companies face. Ensuring that goods can continually move safely and easily between docked vehicles and loading areas is crucial to keep operations running smoothly.
For many companies, a standard dock leveler will suffice for their loading and unloading needs. But in a world where more and more sensitive material is being shipped around the world – alongside increasingly stringent regulations – a more sophisticated or holistic docking solution is often required.
This is especially true when considering that in order to dock to a loading bay, a vehicle typically needs to open its rear doors prior to reversing into the right position. In these situations, cargo can be exposed to heat or cold, with the added risk of contamination by dirt or dust, as well as accidents and theft.
Breaking the chain
Industries with sensitive goods are wide-ranging but the most obvious example is within food and beverage. Loading and unloading of food products need to be carried out as quickly and efficiently as possible to prevent prolonged exposure to temperatures outside the established cold chain range.
Breaking this cold chain can lead to serious public health concerns, including premature spoilage, loss of taste and appearance, and the growth of harmful bacteria. Not properly following cold chain regulations can also result in fines, penalties, rejected loads, and ultimately wasted products.
Optimizing the process
For applications where risk mitigation is critical, a holistic docking concept like Stepdock can help improve your operations. Stepdock comprises several products, components, and systems to form one complete docking solution – from arrival and parking guides, and inflatable dock shelters, all the way to dock levelers and control boxes.
This docking portfolio not only streamlines operations. It ensures you can open a vehicle’s doors when it is safely parked at the loading bay, while an inflatable shelter seals off the outside environment. This eliminates cold or warm bridges between equipment, saves on energy consumption, and helps improve hygiene levels.
All of this is essential for businesses dependent on hygiene applications, food and beverage producers requiring an unbroken cold chain, and customs-conscious companies concerned with the theft of goods.
See how the ASSA ABLOY Stepdock concept can reduce risks in your operations here.