There are some things that we, unfortunately, give very little thought to in the industrial world. While we’re busy maintaining expensive machinery, hardworking equipment and anything else that’s crucial to everyday business operations, what we might be overlooking could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, so to speak. In fact, it could be something as simple as your dock leveler in McDonough, GA.
For any facility that shipping and receiving cargo—especially cargo that comes with a high weight capacity—a dock leveler is as important as the dock door itself and without a properly working leveler, you’re going to face insurmountable odds when it comes to getting product in and out of your facilities via the dock. Take a look at a few things you should be actively considering each time you’re preparing to load or unload cargo and what importance these items play in regards to your dock leveler in McDonough, GA:
- What type of lift mechanism is your dock leveler using and what is the condition of this mechanism? If, for example, you’re using a dock leveler that’s outfitted with a mechanical spring counterbalance, you’re going to want to make sure that there is no rust or warping that might hinder the function of the mechanism itself. Over time these things can become prevalent, but if you’re diligent in maintaining your dock leveler, you’ll find that these issues are not as frequent.
- What is the load capacity of your leveler? Dock levelers are rated based on the load they’re able to support, however some represent a higher mass rating than others. If you exceed the standard weight capacity of your leveler, you risk damaging the mechanism itself and permanently hindering it.
- Check the overall width versus the usable width of your dock leveler and internalize these measurements so that you always know if something will fit or not. One of the biggest issues people make is eyeballing the dimensions of something that’s going to be moved through a cargo bay, without actually knowing the measurements that they’re working with. This could lead to a myriad of problems—especially when you require your dock leveler to help in the transition.
- Know the service height range of your dock leveler. Being able to recall this number will help you when it comes to maneuvering things in and out of the dock with the help of the leveler, much like knowing the useable width.
Aside from these mechanical aspects of your dock leveler in McDonough, GA, you should always be privy to the placement and condition of your leveler, as well as who is operating it and what potential hazards you might be faced with at any given time.
It’s easy to overlook something simple, like a dock leveler, when you’re surrounded with other equipment and machinery that might seem more useful or exciting, but always remember that without the assistance of your dock leveler and its proper function, your business might find itself at a standstill until the problem is resolved!