Trailer restraints

Never enter a trailer unless the trailer has been secured with wheel chocks or trailer restraint devices. 

Several years ago an automatic trailer restraint was invented that allows for the trailer to be temporarily attached to the dock. An automatic trailer restraint is illustrated in Figure 6-1. When a trailer is spotted at the dock, a button on a panel within the warehouse is pushed and a bar/hook combination rotate upward from the dock floor to engage the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) bar, which then is secured by the restraint. It is estimated that over 95 percent of all trailers have an ICC bar. 

Figure 6-1. With an automatic trailer restraint system, a red light warns the operator not to enter the trailer and a green light shows that it is safe to proceed. The restraint hooks onto the trailer s ICC bar.

There are many advantages to automatic trailer restraints, and few disadvantages. 

Ease of use—a button is pushed to activate or deactivate the trailer restraint. 

For those organizations that are expanding dock services at their warehouse or are considering a new warehouse, the addition of automatic trailer restraints will more than pay for themselves over a period of time. 

The unexpected movement of trailers at docks over the years has caused many injuries and deaths. To prevent movement of trailers, powered equipment operators can be protected by wheel chocks and various forms of mechanical trailer restraints. 

Some thirteen dock equipment manufacturers provide vehicle restraints to industry. Many plant managers, safety professionals, and warehouse employees support the use of trailer restraints for many reasons. Most of all, these devices provide a much safer environment for powered equipment operators. 

Figure 9-8. The Rite-Hite Corporation has developed a trailer restraint called the Wheel-Lok. It can be used on trailers with or without an ICC bar. (Courtesy of the...

Never enter a trailer when the electronic signals of a trailer-restraint system show that the trailer is not restrained to the dock face. 

Be sure the trailer s wheels are chocked or the trailer is secured with an automatic trailer restraint, before entering. Figure 10-16 illustrates the dangers in trailer pull-away while using a walkie. 

After the vehicle restraint system is in place, the next item to install and check is the dockboard. This metal plate makes a ramp between the warehouse floor and the trailer floor. After installation of the dockboard, the operator should check it to make sure it is square with the trailer and overlaps both the trailer and the loading dock suflSciently to support the forklift. 

Vehicle restraints are more effective than manual wheel chocking. The restraint has a moveable steel hook, bar, or handle mounted onto the dock wall face. The hook, bar, or handle attaches to the ICC (Interstate Commerce Commission) bar, which is the horizontal bar mounted below the trailer bumper. This device is also called a rear impact guard. 

When a trailer is backed into the dock, an employee activates the restraint by pushing a button on a control panel inside the building. Once the ICC bar is secured to the restraint, the trailer cannot move until loading or unloading is completed. The employee must push a button to deactivate the unit. Other units are activated when the trailer makes contact with a sensor on the restraint. If the ICC bar is missing or defective and the restraint can t lock onto the trailer, an alarm will sound to alert everyone to this condition. 

The trailer or truck is backed up to a dock door that is equipped with a special restraint device. 

Are trailers secured with vehi cle restraints when elevated ... 

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