Risk Management Magazine

As Army aviators, we’re sometimes required to fly in unfamiliar areas with in-depth restrictions and guidelines. We must learn to slow down — not just rush in and get the job done. I believe the extra training flights we took as a crew to further familiarize ourselves with the area helped us tremendously. I’ve talked with other pilots who said they were not given that opportunity.

Depending on the company or mission, several hazards can be found in or around docks. Falls and trips are among the leading causes of dock-related injuries. Wet or oily surfaces, uneven dock plates and unguarded dock edges pose significant risks. Workers can fall from dock edges or into open dock doors if proper barriers are not in place.

The moral to this story should scream out to the reader, but I will make it clear. It pays to know your aircraft’s limitations.