SAFETY SYSTEMS FOR VERTICALLY STORING DOCK LEVELERS

Example dock leveler safety systems (12a-f) for vertically storing dock levelers (24) are disclosed herein. An example dock leveler safety system disclosed herein may be used at a dock platform (16) in a pit (26) having a pit floor (28), where the pit floor is at a lower elevation than the dock platform and the dock platform and the pit floor define the pit. The dock leveler safety system comprises a deck (30) to pivot relative to the dock platform between an upright position and a lowered position such that the deck extends farther over the pit floor when the deck is in the lowered position than when the deck is in the stored upright position. A sensor (54) monitors a sensed region (56) within the pit when the deck is in the upright position and the sensor provides a reaction signal (60) in response to a body (50) being detected within the sensed region. The deck enters a state of restricted movement in response to the reaction signal.