Loading bays: Prepare now for winter

John Meale, managing director of Thorworld Industries, comments: “Being ‘loading bay ready’ can prevent setbacks further down the line, such as delivery back-ups, supply bottlenecks, and the risk of accident caused by unsafe or inappropriate equipment.”

Meale highlights the value of investing in effective, yet simple and inexpensive safety aids, such as signage and traffic lights, or restraint products such as alignment curbs or dock bumpers. “A single accident is all it takes to create a devastating impact on any firm with loading and unloading capabilities, both in terms of harm caused to staff and to business efficiency.

“A safe Christmas is a happy Christmas and an efficient seasonal loading bay is an industrious one. Investing in apparatus and facilities now will pay dividends throughout the festive period – and beyond.”

Meale refers to options such as fitting seals or shelters over external loading bay facilities to protect employees from the winter elements, a measure that can reduce time taken off by staff due to sickness, as well as helping to maintain a consistent temperature within the warehouse - both of which will reduce financial waste and increase efficiency.

“Making such additions needn’t prove expensive,” Meale concludes. “In fact, as such apparatus can reduce downtime, prevent poor throughput and eliminate hazards for warehouse operators, it is an essential investment.”