In Brief
Loading Docks in Multitenant Buildings
Shipping and receiving are trickiest in multitenant facilities. Here's a tool for assessing risk in such a scenario.
By Lauren Gibbons Paul
October 05, 2008
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CSO
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Facilities and staffing:
- Are shipping (outbound) and receiving (inbound) areas physically separated? Are appropriate controls applied to each area?
- For safety (and efficiency) purposes, is the platform height aligned with typical truck-bed height?
- Is this height adjustable?
- What are the hours of operation, and does the facility provide supervision and staff at all times?
- Are rest areas and toilet facilities provided?
- Who controls access to these areas?
- Do the doors close and lock automatically?
- Are pedestrians allowed to enter the dock area?
Delivery vehicles and drivers:
- Are all vehicles logged in and out?
- Are vehicles inspected before entering loading docks?
- Are keys left in delivery vehicles, or are the keys stored in a secure area?
- Who is permitted to move vehicles—drivers only, or loading dock personnel as well?
- Are all operators trained, licensed and insured?
- Are drivers allowed to enter the building to complete deliveries?
- Are drivers required to wear ID badges in the facility?
- Are other vehicles (such as employees' cars) permitted to park in these areas?
- Are the movements of vehicle drivers and delivery people restricted in the dock area?
Lighting:
- What type of lighting is provided for the dock area?
- Are all exterior doorways, walkways, entries and elevator lobbies adequately lit?
- Are the lights in operation during all hours of darkness, and is a timer system used?
- Is the lighting system regularly inspected, and if so, by whom?
- Is there emergency lighting in case of power failure?
Surveillance:
- Are all loading dock areas covered by surveillance cameras?
- Are the image quality, frame rate and video-storage period appropriate?
- Are cameras black-and-white or color, digital or analog?
- Does the system capture and store vehicle license plate images?
- Are outside cameras weatherproof?
- Are cameras adequately secured?
- Is surveillance video monitored in real time, or are any video analytics in use?
Adapted from "Call Centers: Risk Assessment Reminders" (CSOonline.com) and High-Rise Security and Fire Life Safety, 2nd edition, by Geoff Craighead (Butterworth-Heinemann, 2003).
Other stories by Lauren Gibbons Paul
loading dock
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