Safer deliveries start before the van arrives
The difficult part of a delivery may begin after the driver leaves. Boxes are stacked in a doorway, the trolley is elsewhere and the only free shelf is above shoulder level. Staff improvise because stock has to move and the shop is about to open.
Safer receiving starts earlier: when the order is placed, the delivery point is agreed and storage space is allocated. A lifting demonstration cannot compensate for an avoidably awkward system.
Look at the whole handling journey
Follow the goods from the agreed handover point to their final storage position. Include unpacking, waste removal, replenishment and returns. Ask the people doing the work which movements are awkward, repetitive or rushed.
HSE’s manual-handling guidance sets out the approach: avoid hazardous handling where reasonably practicable, assess what cannot be avoided and reduce the risks. Handling includes pushing and pulling as well as lifting. There is no universal legal weight limit that makes every load below it safe.
Agree the receiving arrangements with the supplier
Ask where goods will be left, how they will be packaged and what equipment or assistance the delivery service provides. Confirm whether a quoted service stops at the kerb, the entrance or another agreed point. Do not assume the driver can help with every internal movement. If the delivery includes installation or maintenance, agree the contractor’s pre-start handover as well as the drop point.
Discuss smaller packages, a different drop point or a more suitable delivery time where these would change the risk. If a supplier changes the arrangement, review it before the next order rather than leaving receiving staff to discover the difference.
Prepare a short receiving plan
| Check | Decision to make |
|---|---|
| Handover point | Where can unloading take place without creating an uncontrolled conflict with people or vehicles? |
| Route | Is the route suitable for the load and any handling equipment? |
| Space | Where will stock go without obstructing doors, walkways or emergency routes? |
| People | Who receives it and are they trained for the agreed method? |
| Equipment | Is a suitable, serviceable handling aid available when needed? |
| Unexpected delivery | Who decides what to do if the load or conditions differ from the plan? |
This is a planning aid, not a complete assessment. A load’s size, grip, stability, frequency of handling, route and individual worker’s circumstances can matter as well as its weight.
Choose aids for the actual route
HSE describes mechanical aids and changes to handling as ways to reduce or eliminate risk. A suitable aid may change the job substantially, but check doors, thresholds, gradients, available space and the load it must move.
In a fictional shop, staff buy a trolley only to discover it cannot reach the stockroom. A better review would test the complete route before purchase. The lesson is to specify the task first, then choose equipment that supports it.
Do not let training become the entire control
HSE warns that training alone will not ensure safe manual handling. It should relate to the real tasks, equipment and working arrangements, include practical work and be supported by monitoring.
Give staff a clear way to raise a problem with an unexpected load. “Ask somebody stronger” is not an assessment, and adding another person does not automatically make a task safe. Stop and reassess arrangements where the plan no longer applies.
After the next delivery, ask what still required improvisation. Fixing the handover, storage layout or order specification can be more useful than repeating the same reminder at every staff meeting. Follow up any near miss through a clear reporting and action process.
Scope: this guide uses HSE guidance for workplaces in Great Britain. Northern Ireland has a separate health and safety regime; check HSENI guidance where relevant. Apply the advice to your own activities and obtain competent help where needed.
