// Occupations and Workplaces

Delivery Persons - General

What kinds of jobs do delivery persons have? A delivery person may also be referred to as: Delivery or courier drivers.

// Issues
13
// Requirements
21
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Contents Portal Graph

A delivery person may also be referred to as: These titles are examples of jobs that involve delivering items by walking from place to place, riding bicycles or motorcycles, or driving automobiles, vans, and light trucks. The item delivered may be anything - common examples are documents, packages, take-out food, merchandise, groceries, equipment, or appliances.

  • context Delivery or courier drivers.
  • context Letter carriers.
  • context Couriers.
  • context Messengers.
  • context Door-to-door distributors.

This profile refers to delivery persons in general. Delivery persons, couriers or messengers pick up and deliver documents, messages, packages and various other products and deliver it to a different location. Medical samples or hazardous products may be in the packages that they deliver. The person may also have to collect payment for their delivery service or product delivered (e.g., pizza and other "fast foods", liquor, mobile canteens). Delivery persons typically have to lift and carry items of different sizes, weights, and shapes such as letters, pizzas, office equipment and supplies, construction supplies, mattresses, or refrigerators. Much of their work is done:

  • duty Outdoors, where they are exposed to a wide range of weather conditions.
  • duty Day or night.
  • duty Deliveries may be taken to potentially hazardous areas like construction sites or high crime rate areas.
  • ergonomic Pain or injury from physical overexertion or repetitive manual tasks.
  • psychosocial Working alone.
  • safety Vehicle or bicycle incidents.
  • safety Slips, trips and falls.
  • psychosocial Stress.
  • psychosocial Shift work, late hours, or extended work days.
  • psychosocial Workplace violence (e.g., bullying, verbal abuse, harassment, physical attacks, robbery).
  • physical If outdoors, exposure to extreme weather temperatures and UV radiation from sunlight.
  • general Suspicious mail or packages.
  • general Dog bites.
  • biological Insect stings (e.g., bees, hornets, mosquitoes).
  • general Potential of exposure to improperly labelled hazardous products or biological materials (e.g., medical specimens).
  • biological Potential of exposure to infectious agents, such as viruses.
  • requirement Learn about how to avoid musculoskeletal pain or injury from repetitive or physically awkward tasks.
  • requirement Learn safe lifting techniques.
  • requirement Follow a recommended shiftwork pattern and know about risks associated with shiftwork and extended workdays.
  • requirement Keep all work areas and vehicles clear of clutter and equipment. Items should be stored securely.
  • requirement Keep equipment and vehicles in good mechanical condition and working order. Check your vehicle or bicycle before using it to make sure that it is in good operating condition.
  • ppe Use correct personal protective equipment and clothing, including safety footwear. Personal protective clothing includes high-visibility (HV) clothing.
  • requirement Carry a mobile phone or have another way to stay in contact with your workplace.
  • requirement Use mechanical aids to carry heavy items, where possible.
  • requirement Know how to identify suspicious mail or packages.

Follow safety procedures, where appropriate for the hazard, for: Always:

  • requirement Practice safe lifting techniques and materials handling (lifting, carrying, lowering, etc.).
  • requirement Stay informed about chemical hazards including WHMIS and SDSs and Transport of Dangerous Goods (where applicable).
  • requirement Identify the best routes, considering traffic flow, one-way or narrow roads, low bridges, tight curves, overhead power lines, parking restrictions, etc.
  • requirement Be prepared for severe weather conditions (hot/cold) and UV radiation from sunlight.
  • requirement Safe use of vehicles (or bicycles), including using cellular phones and other devices and winter driving.
  • requirement Prevent slips, trips and falls on level ground and stairways.
  • requirement Learn about the risks associated with fatigue.
  • administrative Practice safe work procedures when working alone, off-site, or when handling money.
  • requirement Practice good hygiene practices when contact with infectious agents such as viruses are a concern, such as COVID-19.
  • requirement Be aware of ways to prevent workplace violence (e.g., working alone, bullying, verbal abuse, harassment, physical attacks, robbery).
  • administrative Know how to report a hazard.
  • requirement Follow company safety rules.

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Diseases, Disorders, Injuries

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Diseases, Disorders, Injuries Skin Cancer and Sunlight
10 practices Open →

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Driving

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Driving Drivers - Distance (General)
39 practices foot protectionhigh-visibility clothing Open →
Driving Driving - Using Cellular Phones and Other Devices
0 practices Open →

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Pandemics

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Pandemics Coronavirus
20 practices respiratory protection Open →
Pandemics Good Hygiene Practices - Reducing the Spread of Infections and Viruses
6 practices eye protectionhand protection Open →

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Shiftwork

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Shiftwork Extended Workday: Health and Safety Issues
10 practices Open →
Shiftwork Rotational Shiftwork
0 practices Open →

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Violence / Bullying

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Violence / Bullying Bullying in the Workplace
35 practices Open →
Violence / Bullying Working Alone - General
0 practices Open →

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WHMIS/GHS/SDS

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

WHMIS/GHS/SDS WHMIS - Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
0 practices Open →

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Weather

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Weather Driving - Winter
28 practices Open →

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Working Alone

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Working Alone Working Alone - Handling Money
26 practices Open →
Working Alone Working Alone - Off-site
15 practices Open →
Delivery Persons - General
HAS_ISSUE 13
HAS_REQUIREMENT 21
LINKS_TO 32
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Fact sheets 26

Occupations 1

PDFs 1

Section indexes 4