If you have both a hydraulic dock leveler and an overhead door in the closed position and try to operate the dock leveler, the power of the dock leveler will damage the locked overhead door. If you have a vertical storing dock leveler in the rest (vertical) position and try and operate (lower) it when an overhead door is in the closed position, the dock will cause severe damage by impacting with the overhead door. In order to ensure that the dock leveler will not be able to operate when the over... Read More
Self-contained power units cost less and are the most common, however, there are alternatives. Remote power units are one of the alternatives and are best suited for wash down applications. When periodic maintenance is required, it is easier to access a remote power unit. At the time of installation, remote power units are typically installed 7’ – 8’above finished floor level on a wall mounting bracket. This moves the power unit up and away from potential impact. The hydraulic hoses are th... Read More
Not all applications are the same. In some cases, vehicle restraints are a part of the initial construction design process. It is also quite common to add vehicle restraints to an existing loading dock to improve the safety at this busy area of the facility. The positioning of the trailer’s rear impact guard can vary from trailer manufacturers. This has created the requirements for low profile vehicle restraints. Some facilities are able to cost justify mechanical vehicle restraints as an impr... Read More
If a lift table is installed into a pre-formed pit, one or more of the following guarding methods must be provided for personnel protection from potential shear points.
The two most common methods to provide shear point protection are beveled toe guards and toe sensor bars. The bevel toe guards provide a physical alert and help to push the obstruction away from the descent of the table. The toe sensor bar provides an electrical signal when it encounters any interference, and immediately stops... Read More
Forklifts play a large part in everyday warehouse operations. They help move goods from one location to another but can be dangerous if you don’t follow the proper safety procedures. To avoid injuries, follow these 10 forklift safety tips:
Only licensed individuals can operate a forklift: In order to operate a forklift, one needs to be properly trained and possess a licence for operating the equipment.
The right clothing must be worn: As with any machinery, forklift operators need ... Read More
Pentalift lift tables can have additional options included that will permit use as a work platform , or for riders to travel with the load.
When there will be personnel riding on the table, the industry standard, ANSI MH29.1 Safety Requirements for Industrial Scissor Lifts, requires that the lift table be equipped with guard rails on all sides These are not used for loading and unloading, unless guarded by location or other means. On sides and ends that are used for loading and unloading, the... Read More
Only if you are using a lift truck on your dock lift would you require an Automatic Hydraulic Roll-Off-Stop.
When the dock lift is in the lowered, closed position, the roll-off-stop is flat. The lift truck drives across the roll-off-stop onto the platform. When the "up" button is activated, the roll-off-stop is powered into the vertical position before the dock lift begins to rise.
When the dock lift is in the raised position, the lift truck drives onto the delivery truck. When the lif... Read More
A Velocity Fuse is a safety device that is added to the hydraulic system. It “locks” the downward travel in a free-fall situation, which occurs due to a hydraulic system failure, other than on the cylinders of the lift table.
The Velocity Fuse monitors the flow rate of the hydraulic fluid out of the cylinder and “locks” if it exceeds the allowable rate. For lighter loads, a flow rate high enough to “lock” may not develop. In these cases, the downward travel will be at a contro... Read More
If the overhead door is closed and locked, a mechanical dock leveler will not damage the door when the dock leveler is activated. An air powered dock leveler or hydraulic dock leveler will cause extensive damage to the closed and locked overhead door if operated. To address this concern for potential damage, both air powered and hydraulic dock levelers can be ordered with an optional overhead door interlock switch. A striker plate on the door activates a wall installed limit switch when the door... Read More
Interlocking dock equipment is becoming more common than ever. Interlocking the equipment improves safety at the loading dock area and also reduces potential for loading dock area equipment damage. First let’s identify some of the equipment that is commonly interlocked...usually equipment such as hydraulic dock levelers, vehicle restraints, overhead doors and inflatable dock seals. For example if the hydraulic dock leveler is interlocked to the overhead door, the door must be open before the d... Read More