Warehouse & Loading Dock Safety
Warehouses mix forklifts, trucks, people, heavy loads and tight deadlines. Loading docks are especially dangerous: forklifts fall off docks, trailers creep or pull away from them, and workers get caught between trucks and the dock.
- General Industry
- Warehousing
- California
- Minnesota
- New York
- Washington
Most common warehouse hazards
- Forklifts: struck-by, tip-overs and falls from docks. See Forklifts
- Loading docks and trailers
- Falling materials from racks and stacks
- Lifting, reaching and repetitive motion injuries
- Slips, trips and falls, and blocked exits
- Conveyors and automated equipment. See Conveyor Safety
- Heat, and battery charging areas
Loading docks
- Trailer secured with wheel chocks or a vehicle restraint before loading
- Driver has the keys out or a lock-out system in use, so the truck can’t pull away
- Trailer floor checked for damage, holes and weak boards before driving a forklift in
- Nose of a detached trailer supported with jack stands
- Dock plates and dock levelers rated for the load and secured
- Dock edges guarded or marked when doors are open and no trailer is present
- Lighting inside trailers
- Nobody standing between a backing truck and the dock
Trailer creep and early departure can open a gap between the trailer and the dock while a forklift is crossing. The forklift drops into the gap or off the dock. Never enter a trailer until you’ve confirmed it’s restrained. See Forklifts in Trailers.
Inside the warehouse
- Separate pedestrians and forklifts with marked lanes and barriers.
- Make eye contact with forklift operators; use mirrors at blind corners and don’t walk behind backing equipment.
- Follow rack load limits and report rack damage. See Racking Inspection.
- Put heavy items on lower shelves; don’t climb racks.
- Keep aisles, exits and fire extinguishers clear.
- Use proper lifting and mechanical aids. Vary tasks to prevent repetitive strain. See Safe Lifting.
- Watch for heat inside trailers and warehouses in summer; drink water and take breaks. See Heat Illness.
- Charge batteries only in designated, ventilated areas.
Pick rates and quotas
Fast pick rates can push workers to skip safety steps and increase strain injuries. Several states, including California, New York, Washington and Minnesota, have warehouse quota laws that require employers to disclose quotas and bar quotas that prevent breaks or bathroom use. Report injuries and pain early, and see Worker Rights.
Standards & references
- OSHA: Warehousing
- 29 CFR 1910.178(k): Trucks and railroad cars
- See also: Pallet Jacks
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