How Vehicle Restraint Systems Work – And How They Can Reduce The Risk Of Loading Bay Accidents

If your business operates loading bays, you should be aware of the challenges that can lead to accidents during loading activities:

High throughput of goods, time-pressures, and servicing a wide variety of vehicles.

And this is on top of the common issue of poor communication between drivers and warehouse employees.

Here’s what you need to know about vehicle restraint systems and how they can reduce the risk of accidents at your loading bay:

WHAT IS VEHICLE CREEP AND DRIVE-OFF?

Both vehicle creep and vehicle drive-off (sometimes called ‘driveways’) can cause dangerous gaps between the loading bay vehicle and the loading dock during operations.

However they occur for different reasons.

• Drive-off happens when a stationary vehicle pulls away prematurely, often due to poor communication between the driver and warehouse employees.
• Vehicle creep is caused by forklifts and other manual handling equipment moving between the trailer and loading dock, jolting the vehicle and causing it to creep forward.

The resulting large gaps between vehicle and dock can have serious consequences.

Both people and equipment can fall, leading to serious accidents and injury – additionally, falling loads can cause spillages and leaks.

WHAT IS A LOADING BAY VEHICLE RESTRAINT SYSTEM?

In simple terms, it is a site-based solution to prevent vehicle creep and drive-offs.

It works by securing the rear wheel with an extending chock that presses firmly against the wheel, ensuring the vehicle is securely locked in place.

The constant pressure from the blocking arm acts as a restraining force that prevents creep and unplanned drive-offs.

Being a site-installed solution means it is not reliant on drivers to operate, but instead is fully controlled by the loading facility, reducing the risk of human error or miscommunication. 

These systems also work with a wide variety of trailer types, offering a flexible safety solution for the vehicles serviced at your facility. 

Once it is safe for the vehicle to pull away, the vehicle restraint is fully retracted, preventing any damage to wheels or mud flaps. 

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MANUAL AND AUTOMATIC VEHICLE RESTRAINT?

While both work by securing the rear wheel of the trailer, there are important differences:

• Manual vehicle restraints must be engaged and released by hand, leading to greater risk of human error and accidents – in addition to being more time-intensive. 
• Automatic vehicle restraint systems are controlled at the press of a button on the internal control panel, negating the need for employees to operate the restraint from busy and potentially dangerous driveways. 

This automated approach allows other loading bay equipment, such dock doors and dock levellers, to be controlled as part of a sequence:

Neither doors nor dock levellers can be operated before the vehicle is fully secured, and vehicles will not be released until the they are safely back in rest position. 

So if you’re looking to reduce the risk of accidents at your loading bays, the automatic version has the most to offer.

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT VEHICLE RESTRAINT SYSTEMS?

Whether your facility operates five loading bays or a hundred and five, investing in the latest vehicle restraint technology can have serious safety and health benefits.

Check out our vehicle restraint systems online or contact us to speak to one of our loading bay specialists today.

Contact Stertil on 08707 700471, or email info@stertil.co.uk.