Cascades Inopak selected the Salvo system from Chicago-based Castell Safety to eliminate risk of unscheduled truck departures from loading docks at its Drummondville, Quebec, site. The brake line interlocking system minimizes the possibility of human error to protect workers from injury and property from damage.

After a routine facility-wide health and safety audit, Cascades Inopak determined that there was opportunity for increased security at the loading docks. The company wanted to go beyond restraint systems that rely on employee compliance to a more risk-free automated system like the Salvo, ensuring the highest level of protection possible to its employees.

“In smaller facilities, a restraint system might be sufficient when only a few well trained employees are performing loading and unloading,” says Serge Blais, plant manager for Cascades Inopak. “With the number of employees accessing trucks at our facility, it’s harder to ensure that everyone is following the rules. That’s why we chose the Salvo system; with it, there is no opportunity for personnel to overlook safety procedures because they cannot open the dock door unless the system is engaged.”

Each Salvo system consists of a Salvo SGL gladhand lock, control panel and internal and external traffic lights for visual communication. When a truck arrives at Cascades Inopak’s loading dock, an employee attaches the SGL to the truck’s emergency brake line, immobilizing the truck. With the SGL properly attached, a uniquely coded key is released for use in the Salvo control panel. Inserting the key into the control panel turns the inside traffic light green to alert workers that the dock door is now unlocked and it is safe to enter the truck trailer, while a red light outside reminds the driver that the truck is not able to depart.

Until the automatic door is closed and locked, the control panel will not release the key, making it impossible for anyone to remove the Salvo gladhand lock from the trailer brake line before it is safe for the truck to leave. With Salvo, the dock workers are in total control of their loading dock environment.

“Our employees have found that the Salvo system is no more complicated to operate than a restraint system,” says Blais. “And with it, I’m 100% confident that we are getting the highest level of dock safety.”