Introduction
1.1 Objective of this guide
The aim of this guide is to scope the availability of good practice material on the occupational health
and safety of light delivery riders, namely:
Motorcycle messengers and delivery workers (e.g., pizza delivery)
Bicycle couriers.
This guide presents examples of the good practice guidelines found. The study aimed to cover the many different risks for delivery riders, not just road safety. The guide does not pretend to be completely comprehensive but provides a flavour of the range of guidance about preventing risks to delivery riders.
Motorcycles and bicycles can be used at work for various activities, such as fast-food delivery, message and post-delivery.
This guide presents examples of good practice guidelines, good practice solutions, risk prevention recommendations and advice on equipment maintenance. The guidelines cover various different risks faced by couriers, in addition to road safety, including:
Bike maintenance
Safe driving
The provision and use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
Training and supervision
Violence
Stress
Slips, trips and falls
Design of bikes
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), vibration
Traffic fumes
Welfare facilities
What to do if an accident occurs
Working hours, shifts, night work
Training.
Introduction to the overall topic
Delivery workers defined in this report include messengers, couriers and food delivery drivers who use bicycles or motorcycles.
Riders on motorcycles or bicycles provide a valuable service in delivering information for the business community or home deliveries for the general public. Traffic congestion and parking restrictions make delivering parcels by motorcycle and bicycles an economical and effective alternative to delivery vans. Bicycles and motorcycles can travel faster than cars through heavy city traffic, they are also economical, efficient and, in the case of bicycles, environmentally harmless.
However, motorcyclists and bicycle riders are two of the most vulnerable groups of road users. In 2006 powered two-wheeler (P2W) and bicycle riders were involved in about 21% and 10% respectively of all traffic accidents occurring in London that resulted in fatalities or serious injuries, although they accounted for less than 3% of vehicle kilometres travelled.
Riders in both sectors suffer from time pressure: delivery workers are paid per delivery and are required to fulfil assignments in a very short period of time. Food delivery drivers have to deliver food while it is still hot.
Riders in both sectors are at risk of being involved in road traffic accidents and are exposed to pollution.
But there are also differences between the ‘two-wheeled’ delivery sectors:
According to a survey in the UK, the majority of courier riders are about 26 to 30 years old, whereas the majority of food delivery riders are younger, about 21 to 25 years old.
‘Courier riders are older and more experienced. Food delivery riders are younger and more likely to work part time’
Delivery riders tend to work full time, from 7 am to 6 pm, and are therefore on the road during the rush hour so the main risk they face is road accidents
Food delivery workers tend to work part-time, typically from 6 to 11 pm. They are more at risk of becoming victims of aggressive, drunken or drugged drivers and clients, and of robberies.
Deliveries by motorcycle:
Motorbikes, mopeds and scooters are becoming an increasingly popular and attractive mode of transport, particularly for fast food and other delivery riders.
Fast food delivery riders work mostly at night, from 7pm to 3 am. They may be confronted with aggressive or drunken clients. They work alone and after dark, which makes their job dangerous. Food delivery riders are also at risk of robberies because they handle money.
Riding a motorcycle in all weathers and adverse road conditions, always in a hurry to fulfil the assignment on time, increases the risk of accidents. Food delivery is typically done by young workers or by workers who have had no job training. They work mostly part-time and on a contract basis.
In the UK motorcycles are mainly used for food delivery, with about 13,000 registered for food deliveries in London alone.
According to a 2018 survey in London, only 18% of food delivery riders interviewed had received formal training.
In the UK the police, in partnership with the government and London’s transport authority, started the ‘Think’ campaign, to make the public more aware of the need to look out for motorcyclists. There is also a campaign to provide further training for riders in the 16-to-25-year age group, including delivery riders, many of whom are learners
Risks and hazards for motorcycle messengers are:
Road traffic (risk of road accidents)
Time pressure (just-in-time delivery)
Vehicles (poorly maintained, equipment not appropriate)
Unbalanced, awkward loads
Vibration
Bad weather, inappropriate clothing
Lack of protective clothing (high visibility vests, helmets)
Lack of training
Lone working
Contact with clients (risk from aggressive, drunken and drugged clients)
Working at night
Handling of money (risk of robberies)
Bicycle couriers:
The U. K’s bicycle couriers cover millions of kilometres and deliver millions of deliveries, making an important contribution to environmental protection and the quality of life. The use of bicycles for delivery work has many advantages for cities: they do not pollute the air with exhaust gases, they damage the road less than other vehicles, they need less space on the road, they help to reduce congestion and traffic jams, and they are less dangerous for pedestrians than other vehicles.
Risk factors for bike couriers are related to the nature of their employment and the traffic environment: their age (about 25 years on average), sex (mostly males), employment status (independent contractors, paid on a delivery or commission basis and working full time on the road), the purpose of their work (rapid delivery), their area of operation (business sector with heavy vehicular traffic and numerous pedestrians, etc.).
Risks and hazards for bicycle messengers are:
Road traffic (risk of road accidents)
Time pressure (just-in-time delivery),
Vehicles (poorly maintained, equipment not appropriate)
Unbalanced load,
Bad weather, inappropriate clothing
Lack of protective clothing (high-visibility vests, helmets)
Lack of training
Lone working
Contact with clients (risk from aggressive, drunken and drugged clients)
Handling of money (risk of robberies)
Polluted air
Physical strain (problems with joints such as knees and wrists)
Nutrition (increased calorie requirements).
General information for light delivery riders
3.1 Guidelines for courier workers (messengers and delivery workers)
Introduction
The guidance sheet for employers gives instructions on the legal requirements and offers advice on risk assessment, suggesting a number of control measures, such as:
training:
high visibility clothing, lights, etc., so deliverers are easier to see in the dark.
bicycle safety checks; and
restricting the weight of goods in bags.
The guidance sheet for delivery workers highlights the hazards associated with poor road surfaces and bad weather conditions. It gives advice on safety clothing and performing bicycle safety checks, as well as making the following recommendations:
Read and learn the Highway Code for young road users and always follow its rules.
undertake cycling proficiency training.
if you cannot carry all your deliveries, then split your round and come back for the second or third bag. If you feel your round is excessively heavy, speak to your supervisor.
do not ride your bicycle on pavements, unless there are special signs allowing you to do so;
do not cycle or walk along poorly lit alleyways – take the safest route.
be careful using staircases in blocks of flats – more accidents happen due to tripping than any other way;
take care on icy, wet, muddy and slippery roads and pavements;
always adhere to all traffic light systems, when crossing a road junction ensure that you cross in a safe place;
If you think you’re being followed, or feel threatened, make for a busy area & phone for help
The most important message: your safety comes first
Good practice recommendations:
For motorcycle riders:
Equipment
Use crash helmets, preferably integral, certified for this purpose. Do not use helmets designed for other activities.
For getting on and off the bike, use vehicle parts designated for this purpose.
In the traffic:
Ride with caution. Be more careful in adverse conditions.
Make yourself visible to other drivers, and wear reflecting clothes.
In urban areas, keep to the left and drive in the centre of the lane.
Use the indicator (or hand signal) in advance to inform other drivers of your manoeuvres.
Respect the traffic lights.
In bad weather:
Drive slower and check tyre pressure and tread depth.
Keep a longer distance from vehicles ahead.
Turn on the lights to be as visible as possible.
Maintenance:
Make a daily check of:
Oil and fuel level
Water
Brake fluid and function
Steering
Make weekly checks of:
Tyre pressure and tread depth
Battery and lights
Spark plugs
Spare parts
Keep records on the vehicle so that the company can carry out regular maintenance. Inform the employer of any faults or damage to the vehicle.
To prevent vibration risks, ensure the seat and the shock absorbers are in good repair.
Personal health:
Stay in good physical condition: exercise regularly.
Do not consume excessive quantities of stimulants such as coffee or other caffeine-containing products.
Do not rub your eyes if you feel tired, because this may cause infection and conjunctivitis.
Attend medical health checks organised by the employer.
Consult your doctor about the effects on driving before taking any medicines.
Do not drink any alcoholic beverage during working hours.
Good practice recommendations:
For cyclists:
The number of accidents in the food/despatch delivery business is five times higher than that of the industry in general. The aim of this programme was to raise the awareness of the workers about what they can do to influence accident rates (‘every accident is unnecessary and avoidable’). Problems identified included a lack of training of temporary staff, and in the case of experienced staff, the tendency to take risks by taking shortcuts or using non-gritted roads in winter. It is also easy to use the weather as an excuse for accidents. However, when delivery workers realise that they have the power to reduce the accident risk by themselves, they normally adopt safer working habits.
A preliminary research programme was undertaken by various delivery companies, known as the ‘endurance at work programme’. The following problems were identified:
the physical load of the work
bad working conditions
night work and shifts
poor interaction between worker and superior
little public appreciation of the work.
All these problems and the limited opportunities for the workers to influence their working conditions led to high rates of sick leave, work accidents and high employee turnover.
During this programme, teams were set up and developed an active and committed work community.
The methods used were:
team-based training
team cooperation in developing safety checklist, discussing abnormal situations like road
works and organising leave planning
teams meeting where the workers actively developed ideas for well-being at work
testing of new work schedules
mapping of occupational accident risk based on the checklist and a workability index.
New delivery workers now receive on-the-job training, which is repeated a few weeks later. Every delivery worker was given a pocket light/headlight and heavily discounted winter tyres for their bicycle. They were advised to use a helmet and anti-skid devices for their shoes (in winter).
The main goal of the project was the further development of the checklist.
For this purpose, a survey was carried out to get more data about the risks and working conditions of delivery workers. The survey asked various questions about working conditions and had space for the riders to make suggestions about improvements. The idea was to gain more knowledge about the practical everyday work and working conditions, including routines, clothing, means of transportation, conditions on the delivery run, etc.
The list consists of several categories and subcategories including Accidents
Are workplace accidents analysed to prevent similar accidents in future?
Does the workplace have any employees who have received no instruction and who are not
skilled/trained for the work they have to do?
Are there any employees who do not have enough time to carry out their tasks in a safe way?
Transport in the workplace
Slips, trips, falls and similar
Physical working environment
Heavy lifting
Pushing and pull
Working postures
Vibrations
Temperature
Instruction and supervision
Physical working environment
Working time
Psychosocial working environment
Too many tasks
Lack of influence
Lack of support from colleagues and superiors
Lack of variation
Violence and threats
Lone work
Shift work
Sickness absence Other (here it is pointed out that there are special rules for pregnant workers)
An action plan has to be developed for each critical point by determining the cause/reason for the problem; the solution to the problem; the responsible person; and a timetable and priorities for solving the problem.
In addition to the checklist, there are also guidelines referring to the most typical problems faced by the sector, and advice on how they might be solved.