FEM dock leveller regulations – one year on

Back in 2014, the FEM undertook wide ranging research and end user feedback to conclude that a key application element of dock levellers built to BS EN 1398: 2009 was being increasingly overlooked. It recommended that this should be taken into account at the time of specification, or risk the overall life of the equipment being affected.

According to FEM, a key driver for these guidelines was the fact that dock levellers were being used more and more in conjunction with pallet trucks or reach trucks, rather than fork lift trucks. This caused a variety of different problems; the main issue being that this approach caused the upper deck of the structure to suffer damage over time because of the significantly higher pressure the trucks impose on the dock levellers.

At the time there was a flurry of awareness activity from FEM to promote the guidelines. While it’s difficult to ascertain exactly how many companies took the necessary steps to adhere to the advice, we do know that before the regulations came into place, there were more than 5000 accidents involving transport in the workplace and now, thanks to the FEM regulations, this figure is thought to have reduced significantly.

However, despite these encouraging figures, it’s likely that many companies still remain non-compliant.

Comment
Michael Fallis-Taylor, service sales & marketing director, Pickerings Lifts  

“If you believe that your company is non-compliant, it is important not to panic, as there are no specific legal requirements requiring businesses to adhere to the guidelines. However, it’s also important to not ignore, as the regulations are there to help you and your business, not impose unnecessary red tape. By not adopting them, not only do you risk expensive repair bills to your equipment, but there are also safety implications to your staff.

“Our advice is to match the capacity of your dock leveller to the load capacity of your materials handling equipment. It is also essential to assess the type of equipment being used in the loading environment in the first place. And following that of the FEM, it is important to check that the dock levellers you have in-situ are capable of supporting the total load capacity you require, and that they are also suitable for use with your nominated truck fleet and types of vehicle.

“Obviously, regular servicing from an expert maintenance provider is also an important step to ensuring compliant and safe equipment.

“The FEM guidelines have not only heightened health and safety, reliability and reduced accidents, but they have also helped improve their loading processes and loading efficiency, reduce downtime and energy consumption and ultimately cost over the lifetime of the asset.

“The loading area is – and always will be – an integral part of the logistics and distribution process where effective, properly planned and specified loading equipment can enhance the productivity within a business environments. Therefore its upkeep is naturally imperative to ensure maximum operational efficiency.”