If it just happened
Emergency? Call 911- 1Have someone stop forklifts and trucks in the area so you're not struck while on the ground.
- 2Stay still and call 911 for head injury, back or neck pain, numbness, a deformity or if you can't stand.
- 3Tell your supervisor and report the fall in writing. Keep a copy.
- 4Note the dock door number, whether a trailer was there, and whether it pulled away, crept or wasn't chocked.
- 5Photograph the dock edge, dock plate or leveler, lighting, and any ice, water or debris.
- 6Write down who was nearby, including the truck driver.
- 7Don't drive yourself if you're hurt.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Reporting it and the claim process
Loading dock falls often happen when a trailer pulls away early or creeps forward, a dock plate shifts, someone steps off an unguarded edge, or a forklift goes over the edge. In your report, describe what happened and whether the trailer was restrained and chocked.
Docks often involve outside parties — a carrier's driver, another company's trailer, or a property owner who maintains the dock leveler. Note their names and information. You still report to your own employer.
Your employer generally sends the report to its insurer or claims administrator. Deadlines to report and file vary by state, so check with your state's workers' compensation agency as soon as possible.
Keep photos, the trailer or carrier number if you know it, medical paperwork and a log of missed work.
Getting medical care
Emergency care or urgent care is often the first stop. Follow-up may be with spine care, orthopedics, or podiatry and foot and ankle specialists, with physical therapy afterward. A licensed clinician decides what imaging and care are appropriate after an evaluation.
Tell the clinician you fell off a loading dock at work, roughly how far, and how you landed. Some states and employers have rules about which provider you see first, so ask your employer or adjuster.
If you are prescribed medication, ask the pharmacy and adjuster how work-injury prescriptions are handled. Home delivery can help while you're on crutches.
Prescribed medication? Learn about prescription home delivery, common medications after work injuries, or find pharmacies near you. Your doctor and pharmacist decide what is right for you.
When people often talk to an attorney
- A truck pulled away or a trailer moved because of another company's driver.
- The dock leveler, plate or restraint failed or was maintained by another company.
- You have broken bones, back injuries or a head injury that keep you off work.
- Your claim is denied or delayed.
- You can't return to dock or warehouse work.
- You're blamed for the fall or told it was your fault.
Learn more: what a workers' comp attorney does. Many offer a free first consultation; fees in workers' comp are often regulated by the state.
Recovery and going back to work
Follow your care plan and keep therapy visits. Heel and back injuries can take time to heal.
Ask your doctor about restrictions on standing, walking, lifting and stairs. Ask your employer about seated or office work, like scheduling or inventory.
Keep your supervisor and adjuster updated after each appointment.
Questions to ask
- Doctor: Do I need imaging of my back, heels or ankles?
- Doctor: How long should I stay off my feet?
- Employer: Was the trailer restrained, and can I get the incident report?
- Employer: Who maintains the dock leveler?
- Adjuster: What is my claim number?
- Adjuster: Who do I see for follow-up?
- Attorney: The truck pulled away while I was on the plate. Does that matter?
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I fell off a loading dock?
Stay still and call 911 for head, neck or back injuries or if you can't stand. Make sure equipment stops moving around you. Report the fall in writing and photograph the dock.
Is a loading dock fall covered by workers' comp?
Dock falls on the job are often handled through workers' compensation, depending on your state and situation. Report it in writing. Check deadlines with your state's agency.
What if a truck driver pulled away while I was loading?
Report it to your employer and note the carrier and driver. Another company's driver being involved may raise questions beyond workers' compensation. Many people talk with an attorney.
What injuries are common from a dock fall?
Back injuries, heel and ankle fractures, wrist injuries and head injuries are common. Some don't show right away. Get a full evaluation.
Should I get checked if I landed on my feet?
Yes, landing on your feet from a height can still injure heels, ankles, knees and the spine. A clinician can decide whether imaging is needed. Don't wait.
When can I go back to dock work after a fall?
Your doctor decides based on your injuries. Ask for written restrictions. Your employer may offer seated or lighter work.
Related situations
Industries where this often happens
Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. Workers' compensation rules and deadlines vary by state — check with your state's workers' compensation agency. Medical emergency? Call 911. Hurt outside of work? Personal-injury legal help: attorneys.plus (coming soon).