Tackling loading dock safety

WORKPLACE SAFETY is in Martin Brower’s DNA, it does everything it can – every day – to protect its team members. Consequently, in each of the 19 countries where the logistics provider operates, this credo is expressed through implementation of effective measures and reliable equipment.

In France, Martin Brower’s numbers speak for themselves: 63 million packages per day, prepared and delivered to more than 1,500 restaurants, a total 516,000 tonnes of product. With this kind of cargo flow distributed over nine sites in France, transshipment operations at loading docks result in hazardous situations for goods and, especially, for people.

Faced with this reality, and within the context of an overall focus on health and safety culture for all team members, Martin Brower France’s teams promote the durability, simplicity, and reliability of the POWERCHOCK restraint systems, built to secure all types of vehicles.

Martin Brower France’s director of operations support Thierry Allègre says: “The five-year warranty that covers the wheel chock system, even in the event of early departure attempts is, of course, another of the reasons we opted for this safety equipment.”

Martin Brower’s facility at La Brède, near Bordeaux, was equipped with the POWERCHOCK 5 vehicle restraint system on all loading docks.

Martin Brower technical director Gérard Divaret adds: “We are completely satisfied with the equipment, and the drivers have adapted well to the system.”

Soon after that, the equipment was installed at all sites in France. The reasons for this deployment? The POWERCHOCK system’s virtually non-existent need for maintenance, combined with its effectiveness and durability, allowed Martin Brower to focus on its core business.

Partnership

Beyond the product itself, “it’s the support and responsiveness of the GMR Safety teams that convinced us,” adds Thierry Allegra. 

Vincent Trémouilhe, key account manager for Europe at GMR Safety, adds to this.

“Our role is to guide our customers, but also to be open to advice they may provide us with, in terms of product improvement. There is no substitute for the customer’s voice when it comes to meeting the customer’s needs – especially when people’s safety is at stake.

GMR Safety president and founder Gaétan Jetté explains: “The relationship we’ve established with Martin Brower fits the definition of the word ‘partner’ perfectly, as we understand it at GMR Safety: combining each party’s strengths and knowledge, to co-create – with shared purpose – products that are always more efficient and innovative.” 

For more information, visit www.gmrsafety.com