The UK parcel delivery sector is booming, and so it’s never been more important to equip delivery drivers with the high-quality workwear and PPE they need to stay safe and comfortable at work.
Lots of driving, pressure to complete deliveries quickly, and varied terrains to navigate at customer addresses – these can all cause or contribute to accidents and injuries if proper attention is not paid to ensuring drivers wear the correct safety footwear.
Meanwhile, exposure to the elements in all weathers makes comfortable workwear and waterproof outer layers a must.
They may be navigating the last mile(s), but the safety and comfort of delivery drivers should be the first thing on the mind of a parcel delivery fleet manager. Here’s why…
Recently published research by Ofcom shows UK parcel firms handled around 4.2 billion packages during the financial year 2024-25, a 7.1% increase on the previous year and 4% higher than during the heights of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020-21 (Source: Ofcom Post Monitoring Report: Postal services in the financial year 2024-25).
As e-commerce continues to grow, more traditional in-person retailers are expanding their online operations, while demand from consumers for the convenience of online shopping and home delivery shows no signs of abating.
Demand is high and there is a lot of competition, so the pressure is on fleet managers to ensure their delivery drivers are as efficient as possible ahead of likely even more growth in the sector to come.
One of the simplest ways to gain the best from your people is to invest in their comfort and safety at work.
Show them you care about their wellbeing and they will feel a valuable part of your operation, in turn rewarding you with their loyalty, dedication and hard work – just what you need when business is booming and the demands on your service are tough.
Fail to do so, and you may find yourself with a whole heap of problems on your hands…
Driving around the country delivering parcels is a tough job. On any average day, a delivery driver might be expected to drop off 100 parcels. This can rise closer to 200 during the busiest times of the year around Black Friday and Christmas.
With each drop comes the need to navigate traffic to find the address, park safely, exit the van and navigate any terrain – including kerbs, steps and uneven ground – as quickly as possible, before getting back into the van and heading off to the next drop to do it all again.
Operating at speed under pressure, it is no surprise that accidents happen. From losing balance while carrying a heavy parcel to a customer’s door, to tripping on uneven ground or falling over an unseen step in someone’s driveway, these accidents can cause injuries as serious as torn ligaments and bone fractures, taking that driver out of work for as long as it takes to them to recover.
Even if no such incidents occur, the cumulative effect of driving all day long, as well as of repeatedly getting in and out of a vehicle, can cause repetitive strain injuries. The pain of these is hard to ignore and will doubtless lead to the same end consequence – a delivery driver at home recovering from a work-related injury rather than at work on the job.
Find out more about common delivery driver injuries and how they can be avoided.
To protect your team against such injuries, it’s vital to ensure all delivery drivers are equipped with good quality workwear and PPE.
At iSB Group, we work with some of the biggest names in the parcel courier sector, including DPD, Hermes, Parcelforce, Royal Mail and Yodel, who trust us to kit out their delivery drivers with everything they need to stay safe and comfortable on the job.
Top of the list is a good pair of safety trainers: with enough flex to allow for comfortable and safe driving, non-slip soles, and added ankle protection. They should be made from breathable materials and have protection against the elements to cope with the demands of year-round wear.
N.B. The importance of high quality, protective footwear for parcel couriers is not to be underestimated, as one of our clients discovered when we were able to dramatically reduce incidences of sprained ankles among their delivery drivers, just by rolling out a new safety boot.
Other essentials items might include a branded polo shirt, a good waterproof jacket, and hi-vis to wear in the late afternoon and evening during the winter months.
Discover the rest of our parcel courier workwear and PPE kit list here
If you have any questions about driver safety, or to talk to us about how our PPE could help you protect your team against injuries, give us a call on 0121 749 4433 or you can email us.