SIZE: 70X50X50

QTY: 25000PCS

N.W: 20 KGS

G.W: 21 KGS

EXPRESS SERVICE

EXPRESS SERVICE

JAMBO BOX: SIZE 676 X 766 X 342

JAMBO BOX: SIZE 676 X 766 X 342

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Table of Content

1. Introduction 2

2. OSH Legislation and General Responsibilities of Employers and Employees 3

3. What is Logistics? 4

4. Common Occupational Safety and Health Problems in Logistics Industry and Control Measures 6

5. Manual Handling Operations 7

6. Musculoskeletal Disorders of Professional Drivers 9

7. Machinery and Equipment 11

8. Stacking of Goods 12

9. Work Stress 13

10. Use of Display Screen Equipment 14

11. Transportation of Dangerous Goods 15

12. Conclusions 16

2

1 Introduction

Situated at the Asian hub, Hong Kong has the advanced and well-established

international airport and container port, of which both passenger and cargo

traffic volumes have become one of the busiest international airlines centres

and container ports in the world. Following China's accession to the World

Trade Organization, both passenger and cargo transportation industries and the

ancillaries in Hong Kong will experience even stronger development, backed

by the giant market in China. Recent statistics show that the logistics industry is

growing fast and has become one of the major economic activities in Hong Kong.

The HKSAR Government has planned to enhance the development of the logistics

industry, with the aim of developing Hong Kong as an international logistics

centre, and expecting the industry to become an important pillar of economy for

Hong Kong.

With the robust growth of the logistics industry, the occupational safety and

health (OSH) problems of the practitioners in the industry are gaining widespread

public concerns. This booklet describes the

common hazards in the workplaces of

the logistics industry, and provides some

recommendations and mitigation measures

for reference.

3

Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, Factories and Industrial

Undertakings Ordinance and their subsidiary regulations are the major OSH

legislations that safeguard the occupational safety and health of employees, both

in industrial and non-industrial sectors. The clauses on general duties state that

proprietors, employees and occupiers of premises are required to ensure safety

and health at work.

i. Proprietors should take care of the safety and health at work of all persons employed

•Provideandmaintainplantandsystemsofworkthatdonotendangersafetyorhealth;

•Makearrangementforensuringsafetyandhealthinconnectionwith

theuse,handling,storageortransportofplantorsubstances;

•Provideallnecessaryinformation,instruction,training,andsupervision

forensuringsafetyandhealth;

•Provideandmaintainsafemeansofaccesstoandegressfromthe

workplaces;

•Provideandmaintainasafeandhealthyworkenvironment.

ii. Employees should also observe and comply with the following measures

•Takecareforthesafetyandhealthofthemselvesandotherpersonsattheworkplace;

•Usinganyequipmentorfollowinganysystemorworkpracticesprovidedbytheproprietors.

iii. Responsibilities of occupiers of premises

•Ensurethepremises,themeansofaccesstoandegressfromthepremises,andanyplant

or substance kept at the premises are safe and without risks to health to any person

working on the premises.

iv. Proprietors of container handling should establish the safety management system

•Proprietorsofcontainerhandling,employing50to99workers, shouldcomplywith

therequirementsoftheFactoriesand IndustrialUndertakings (SafetyManagement)

Regulation by establishing a safety management: system and conducting not less than

one safety review in every 12-month period.

•Proprietorsofcontainerhandling,employing50to99workers,shouldcomplywiththe

requirementsoftheFactoriesandIndustrialUndertakings(SafetyManagement)Regulation

by establishing a safety management: system and conducting not less than one safety audit

in every 12-month period.

v. Employees of container handling are required to undertake safety training

•AccordingtotheFactoriesandIndustrialUndertakingsOrdinance,workersofcontainer

handlingshouldcompletetheMandatoryBasicSafetyTrainingCourse(commonlyknown

as "Container Industry Green Card" course).

2 OSH Legislation and General Responsibilitiesof Employers and Employees

4

3 What is Logistics?

�J� � �6 �t� � � � Brief chart of the flow of goods and materials

Local markets

Foreign markets

Local supply chain management

Materialsuppliers

Materialsuppliers

Sales and delivery of products

Procurementcompanies /

agents

Retailers

Retailers

Productmanufacturers

Productmanufacturers

Wholesalers

Wholesalers /distributors

Consumers

Consumers

Export supply chain management

Logistics refer to the flow of products to retailers and users through the

manufacturing industry, in which freight handling, collection of information,

procurement and storage, distribution and processing, packaging, warehousing,

loading and unloading, transportation and delivery, etc are involved. It aims at

creating value and satisfying customers and social requirements in a cost effective

manner. In other words, the logistics industry is a trade that provides support

services during product distribution.

Currently, the "logistics services" in Hong Kong can be classified into three types:• Publiclogisticsservices,providedbycompaniesspecializinginlogisticmanagementservices.

• Logisticsdistributionservices, inwhichwarehouseandtransportationcompanieshave

undergone structural reforms and set up the delivery centre with original warehouse facilities.

• Doorsteplogisticsservices,providedbyexpresscompanies,couriersorcargotransportation

companies that have enlarged their scope of operations.

The logistics services can manage the flow of materials systematically.

Capitalizing on the advanced communication equipment, computerized

warehouse management system, information transmission via internet and

technical supports, logistics service operators can provide tailor-made and effective

freight delivery services according to customers' needs.

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"Logistics services" is a comprehensive and all-rounded service activity where

service suppliers would ensure smooth operations of all the processes involved,

including freight forwarding (via sea, land or air), warehousing, inventory,

distribution, labeling, packaging, assembling and collection of goods, through

the effective means such as goods management and transportation arrangement.

Logistics service itself is a value-added and cost-effective service, as the clients can

simply concentrate their resources on business development rather than logistic

hustles, which reduce operation cost for greater economic gains.

Structural Components of Logistics

Delivery

Transportation

PackagingLogistics

Distributionand

Processing

Warehousing

This is the major activity in logistics service, and no delay should be allowed

P r o t e c t i on andpackaging of goods for the del ivery and transportation processes

Loading and unloading of goods

A t t a c h p r i c e labels and wrap up i tems upon client's request

Storage of goods

Structural components of logistics

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4 Common Occupational Safety and Health Problemsin Logistics Industry and Controlling Measures

This mission of logistic services is to deliver the goods to the recipients within

the shortest time in the most efficient manner. Therefore, logistic practitioners

have to compete with the time. As a result, practitioners may overlook the

importance of OSH when they are in a hurry to work.

During thedelivery,placement, storageand collectionofgoods, it is

inevitable to involve manual handling, and apply various mechanical aids to assist

the carrying, such as fork-lift, trolley, hand pallet truck and tool cart. Inappropriate

posture, improper use of equipment, and unsafe work environment will induce

highter risk of accidents which threatens not only the OSH of workers, but also

affects the work progress.

Logistics practitioners also face other OSH problems, such as:• Vocationaldriversbecomefatigueafterworkingforlonghoursandinhigherrisktosuffer

from musculoskeletal disorders.

• Incorrectoperationofmachinerymayleadtoinjuries.

• Inappropriatestackingofgoodsmayleadtoaccidents/incidents.

• Hastyworkpacewillincreaseworkstress.

• Prolongedandimproperuseofdisplayscreenequipmentcantriggerhealthproblems.

• Otherpotentialhazardsintheworkenvironment.

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5 Manual Handling Operations

Inappropriate lifting or carrying postures when moving, placing and

collecting goods, or applying excessive force in pushing or pulling objects, carrying

an object for a long distance with bare hands, or even performing certain frequent

and repetitive movement, all of these can lead to higher risk in musculoskeletal

disorders and bodily injury.

a) Causes of manual lifting injury

i. Unsafe environment and conditions • Wetfloor

• Limitedspaceformovingobjects

• Wrongsequenceandarrangementofthegoods

• Heavy,bulkyorslipperysurfaceobjectorobject

itself containing are hot or corrosive substance

ii. Wrong lifting postures • Theobjectistoofarawayfromthebody

• Losebalancewhenliftingtheobject

• Failtocomprehendthebiomechanicsprinciples

and movements are not in harmony

iii. Overloading of lumbar vertebra • Theweightofobjectsisunderestimated

• Fatigueandabruptaccidents

iv. Prolonged movement • Maintainthesamepostureforalongperiodoftime

• Inappropriateposture

• Musculoskeletaldisorders

b) Suggestions for improvement

• Improvetheobject(improvethe

packing or reduce the weight)

• Rearrangetheworksequence

• Makeuseofmechanicalaids

• Improvetheenvironmentalfactors

• Automatedoperations

• Makeuseofproperpersonalprotectiveequipment

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1 2

34

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c) Points to note when lifting / moving an object manually

i. Before lifting the object • Evaluatethesizeandweightoftheobjectanddecide

how to lift it up

• Checkifthereisanynailorsharpcorneronitssurface

to avoid body harm

• Makesureyouknowthepassageof transportation

and the destination to unload the object, and remove

any obstacle on the way

• Ifindoubtaboutyourownabilitytomovetheobject,

your should seek help from others

ii. When lifting the object • Squatdownwithboth legs separatedandbended.

Keep the waist and back straight

• Holdtheobjecttightwiththepalmsandfingers.Your

arms should stay close to the body and your jaw also

close to the chest. Keep the waist and back straight

• Liftwiththelegs.Drawtheobjectasclosetothebodyaspossibleandminimizethe

distance from it. Stand up slowly

iii. When moving the object • Usemechanicalaidsifpossibletoreducetheneedofmanualhandling,forinstance,

trolley, roller track, sliding chute and hand pallet truck

• Ifyouneedtochangedirectionwhenpassingtheobjecttoother,useyourfeetto

turn your body rather than twisting your waist

• Whenyoupass theobject toother,makesurehe/sheholds it firmlybeforeyou

release your hands

Points to Note When Engaging in Manual Handling Operations

Think before you start moving the object . I s i t too heavy? Any further hands needed?

Hold the object tight with the palms and fingers. Yourarmsshouldstaycloseto the body and also your jaw to the chest. Keep the waist and back straight.

Pull theobjectnear to thebody and minimize the distance with the object. Apply force to your legs and lift up the object in a rhythmical way.

S q u a t d o w n w i t h separated and bended legs. Keep the waist and backstraight.Maintainbody balance.

Stand right behind the object. Separate the legs and the feet should be on two sides of the object.

Donotwalkhastilyafterlifting up the object. If you need to turn around, use your legs and avoid twisting of your waist.

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6 Musculoskeletal Disorders of Professional Drivers

Freight transportation by land is one of the main activities in the flow of

logistics.Duetothe jobnature,professionaldriversusuallyhavetosit inthe

drivers'seatsforlonghours.Eventually,theymaysufferfromwaistorbackpain,

and musculoskeletal disorders.

i. Health problems related to prolonged driving

• Neck,backandshoulderspain

• Bloodcirculationmaybeblockedasbothlegsandhiphavebeenunderstressforalong

time. Spasm may occur as a result

• Liftingofobjectimmediatelyafterdrivingmayleadtowaistandbackinjuries

• Potentialhazardssuchasdegeneratingandherniatedintervertebraldiscinthevertebra

ii. Causes of bodily injuries

• Ifthebackis lackofappropriatesupportduringthelonghours'driving,thevertebra

may be deformed and the intervertebral disc under stress

• Remainingintheseatfora longtimewouldstretchandloosentheligaments inthe

spinal column, which may suffer injury when lifting a heavy object suddenly

• if theseat isnotproperlyadjustedforthedriver, thewaistandthebackwouldbe

prone to musculoskeletal disorders. The hip and the back of both legs would be under

stress and impede the circulation of blood

• Asthedriverhastokeeptheneckstraight

in the bumpy compartment, the upper

back and the neck muscles are kept

strained which eventually may result in

musculoskeletal disorders

• Prolongedsteppingon thegasandthe

clutch pedal may lead to stiffening legs,

waist and back, and even spasm

• Thetwistingor stretchingofbodyfora

clear front view may become a bad driving

posture

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iii. How to prevent musculoskeletal disorders?

• Conduct frequent inspectionandmaintenanceonthevehicle suspensionsystemto

ensure proper functioning

• Makecorrespondingadjustmenttotheseat,thesteeringwheelandotheradjustable

items, for a natural and comfortable driving

• Putacushionontheseattoreducebumpiness,ifnecessary

• Ensuresufficientsupportofthedriver seatforthebody.Useapadto improvethe

support for the waist and the back

• Driveatlowspeedwhenontheruggedroads

• Chooseflatroadswheneverpossible.Avoiddrivingoverditchesandmiscelleneousitems

• Takeenoughrest.Dosomesimplestretchingexercisesbeforework

Musculoskeletal Disorders of Professional Drivers

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7 Machinery and Equipment

All machinery and equipment have sets of rules concerning their use and

operations. Workers without proper training may incur accidents, work-injuries,

damage of goods.

i. Points to note when operating machinery and equipment

• Operatorsshouldreceiverelevanttraining. Inorderto learnthecorrectuseofthe

equipment and become aware of the dangerous parts and the safety devices

• Operatorsshouldwearclothingthatfittheirbodies.Sleckclothingmayhavetheriskof

being caught by the dangerous parts of the machinery

• Performregularinspectiononthemachinerytoensuregoodcondition

• Neveroperatethemachineryorequipmentwithoutpriorapproval

• The dangerous parts of

the machinery should be

equipped with protective

guards before use, such as

fixed guard, interlocking

guard, automatic guard,

trip guard and two-hand

control device

ii. Points to note when operating a fork-lift truck

• Operatorshavetocompletetherecognizedtrainingcourse,obtainavalidcertificate

and have been authorized to operate the fork-lift

• Inspectthefork-liftregularlyandpriortooperation

to ensure that it is in good condition

• Applythecorrectpracticeoftransportinggoods

• Thegoodsshouldbeplacedonthepalletproperly

to prevent it from falling down when being

transported

• Payattentiontotheoperatingenvironment.Do

not drive the fork-lift at an excessive speed

• Thefork-liftshouldnotbeusedtocarryperson

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8 Stacking of Goods

Warehouse and stacking yard are the two major workplaces or accessing

places for logistics practitioners. Therefore, the stacking and placing of goods in

warehouseandworkshoparedirectlyaffectingtheefficiencyofworkersandthe

OSH level in the work environment.

Basic rules for safe storage and stacking:• Rollingmaterialshouldbefixedwithawedge.Heaviergoodsshouldalwaysbestacked

below

• Inspectregularlyforanydamageinthepallets,containersandracks

• Palletitemsshouldbepiledupverticallyonaflatgroundbuttheyshouldnotbestacked

too high to avoid losing balance and falling from height

• Goodsinuniformsizeshouldbepiledupinthewayofconstructingabrickwall

• Userackswithfirmfootingforplacingthegoods

• Donotallowanypartofthematerialsextendingtothepassageway,particularlythesharppart

• Donotusetherackasaladdertoclimbupordown,anddonotclimbtheracktopickup

goods from above

• Donotallowanyheavymaterialleaningontheunstablestructure

• Donotpickuporunloadthegoodsbywayofthrowingorpullingthemfromabove

• Donotputtoomanygoodsontherackwhichmayresultinoverloading

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9 Work Stress

The hasty work of logistic practitioners means that practitioners have to

seizeeverysecondtocompletethetasks.Byworkingona24-hourshiftschedule,

practitioners have to work through day and night while overtime work is very

often. All these conditions impose stress on the body and mind, and may trigger

other health problems as well.

To alleviate the work stress:• Reflectopiniontothemanagement,andraisesuggestionstoalleviatethesourceofworkstress.Forinstance,purchasingcarryingequipment,improvingworkflow,etc.

• Prioritizeworktasksandimprovetimemanagement

• Facetheproblemandworkoutthesolutionswithcolleaguesandsuperiorsproactively

• Establishgoodrelationshipwithcolleagues,familymembersandfriendsfordevelopingaback-up network

• Acceptthesupportfromtheothersandofferhelptoothersaswell

• Strikeabalancebetweenworkandrest. Join leisureactivitiesafterworkanddeveloppersonal hobbies

• Maintainahealthybodybydoingexerciseregularly

• Maintainabalancedandsufficientdiet

• Haveenoughsleepandrestyourmindbeforesleep

• Learntherelaxationtechniques

• Sharetheworrieswithsomeonereliable,orseekhelpfromprofessionalcounselorsorpsychologists

• Consultadoctorwhensymptomofanxiety,distressordepressionappears

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Forcolleaguesworkingintheoffice,theymayhavetooperatecomputersfor

long hours every day. Inappropriate working postures may be detrimental to their

health, leading to fatigue, soreness, numbness and stiffness of shoulders, hands

and wrists, upper arms, back and neck. As computer operation is a monotonous

and repetitive work, the adverse health effects could become worse if the

software interfaces are not designed perfect enough, which ultimately constitute

invisible work stress and mental burden on the operators.

Conduct risk assessment:• Theresponsiblepersonoftheworkplaceshouldconduct

risk assessment for frequent computer users and retain

the assessment records according to the Occupational

SafetyandHealth(DisplayScreenEquipment)Regulation

• Theresponsiblepersonshould, ifanyrisk is identified

after the assessment, adopt relevant measures to reduce

the risk to the minimum level that is reasonably and

reasonably-acceptable practicable

Use computers properly:• Payattentiontothedesk,chairandotherfurnitureaccessories,andmakesuretheycan

support the forearms, wrists, elbows, back and feet, etc.

• Equipmentaroundcomputerterminalshouldbeplacedproperly,sothattheoperatordoes

not need to stretch the body excessively

• Lamp,lighting,temperatureandventilationshouldbeappropriate

• Useotheraccessoriessuchasdocumentholder,whichreduce

the eyes' movement and distance with the computer screen

• Maintain sufficientworking spaceandavoid toomany

objects under the desk that impede legs movement

• Adjust thekeyboardtoanappropriateheight.Usewrist

padsandtypesoftlytoavoidstrainingthefingerstoomuch

• Donotextendthearmsexcessivelywhenusingthemouse.

Ensureadequatesupportfortheforearms

• Sitstraight,anddonotmaintainthesamepostureforalong

period of time

• Maintainenoughrestbreaks

10 Use of Display Screen Equipment

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The logistics industry also includes the loading, unloading and transportation

ofdangerousgoods,suchasinflammable,explosiveorcorrosivechemicals.

Points to note:• AsstipulatedintheDangerousGoodsOrdinance,vehiclescarryingdangerousgoodsof

Categories2and5arerequiredtoobtainalicensebeforehand

• PursuenttotheapprovedDangerousGoods(Amendment)Ordinance,vehiclescarrying

other categories of dangerous goods will be required to obtain a license in the future.

Driversofthesevehicleshavetoundertakeandcompletetherequiredtraining

• Thegoodscompartmentofthetruckshouldbeenclosedtoavoiddirectsunlightorrain

• Avoidoverloadingthevehicle

• Thegoods shouldbe fixedandstacked inan

orderly manner to prevent tilting and failing

down

• Donot smokeoreat in thevehicles carrying

dangerous goods

• Alwaysequipwitha fireextinguisheron the

vehiclecarrying inflammablegoods.Driversor

vehicle attendants should learn how to use the

fireextinguishercorrectly

11 Transportation of Dangerous Goods

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12 Conclusions

Apart from a well-prepared safety management plan for the workplace,

thorough implementation of the plan is also important for preventing accidents

from happening in the workplace, in order to improve the OSH performance

and let everyone works safely and healthily. The support of employers and

the participation of employees are of equal significance, since an effective

implementation of safety management depends on the cooperation of both

employers and employees.