Safe work guidelines for couriers

KOSHA distributed Safe Work Guideline for Couriers and Express Delivery Personnel containing 15 rules, accident prevention tips, and accident cases

Aug. 22 2013

○ KOSHA made Safe Work Guideline for Couriers and Express Delivery Personnel to help prevent common accidents among couriers like traffic accidents and trips and protect their health and safety.

○ According to the “Interim Report on the Logistics and Transportation Industry in 2009” from the Statistics Korea, 21,380 couriers are working in 27 companies and 12,845 quick delivery personnel in 944 companies.

○ Couriers and express delivery personnel are more exposed to trips and traffic accidents in the process of collecting, transporting, and delivering packages. According to an analysis on 175 couriers injured last year by KOSHA, traffic accident was most common followed by trips, falls, and collision.  

※ Occupational accidents in the logistics and transportation industry in 2012

○ In this regard, KOSHA distributed Safe Work Guideline for Couriers and Express Delivery Personnel to big courier service firms that KOSHA reached MOUs with in July including KOREX and Lotte Logistics and trade organizations like the Korea Integrated Logistics Association so that it can be used as a training material. It will be also available on the KOSHA homepage.

○ This guideline provides 15 rules to follow including “Secure a clear view when delivering packages,” and “Use a cart when delivering heavy packages.” It also contains major accident cases and accident prevention tips to follow when doing jobs like sorting, transporting, and loading packages and a long distance driving.

○ One official from KOSHA said, “Couriers and express delivery personnel need to try to follow this guideline and safety training is also needed for them.” “This guideline, hopefully, will be very useful in preventing occupational accidents in the logistics and transportation industry,” the official added.

Safe Work Guideline for Couriers and Express Delivery Personnel