How can risks faced by walking delivery workers be reduced and their comfort ensured throughout the day?

Walking delivery workers, often employed by digital platforms, are now omnipresent in our cities. Yet, despite a significant market, symbolised by nearly 1.7 billion parcels delivered in France and exported in 2023, their day-to-day reality remains poorly understood, and they face many risks: falls, physical pain, difficult weather conditions, deadline-related stress…

Whether completing the last mile without a vehicle or carrying out deliveries entirely on foot, these issues represent a genuine challenge. How can these often overlooked specific risks be anticipated and these mobile workers’ comfort be guaranteed? In this article, Shoes For Crews offers an initial overview to better understand their reality in the field and begin considering concrete actions to implement.

Identifying the specific risks faced by walking delivery workers

Walking delivery workers are a group of workers often overlooked in traditional occupational risk prevention policies. Yet they work every day in a dense, fast-paced urban environment that is poorly suited to their activity. They are constantly exposed to the elements and must cover long distances on foot, often under pressure.

Walking delivery workers’ working conditions deteriorate further when combined with the precarious nature of their employment status (self-employed workers, temporary staff, etc.) and the lack of structured supervision. This combination creates fertile ground for accidents and physical or psychological disorders.

The most common physical and environmental risks

• Falls on the same level or from height (stairs, uneven pavements, slips on wet surfaces)
• Musculoskeletal disorders, which account for 87% of occupational illnesses in France according to Ameli, linked to carrying heavy or poorly fitted bags
• Muscle fatigue caused by prolonged walking, often without breaks
• Adverse weather: rain, strong winds, excessive heat or freezing cold
• Road traffic accidents in urban areas (dangerous crossings, poor visibility)

Aggravating psychological factors

Alongside physical risks, walking delivery workers also face significant psychological pressures. Their work is often carried out independently, which increases the feeling of isolation. In addition, with the algorithms used by digital platforms, tight deadlines can cause stress and risk-taking behaviour.

• Deadline pressure imposed by apps
• Constant evaluation by customers (ratings, comments)
• Lack of professional recognition
• Increased social isolation, especially during non-standard working hours

Finally, the digital tools used (GPS, delivery apps) can become a source of tension when they malfunction, further increasing these workers’ mental workload.

These findings highlight the need for concrete action to reduce exposure to these risks. It is therefore important to consider practical, accessible solutions that can be implemented to improve the safety and comfort of walking delivery workers.

Improving the safety and comfort of walking delivery workers

To address the many identified risks, it is essential to adopt a comprehensive prevention approach tailored to the realities of walking delivery work. This means acting at several levels: organisation, training, psychological support and equipment. Combined, these measures reduce risks while improving the day-to-day wellbeing of these often invisible but essential workers.

1. Organisation and delivery route planning

Organising delivery routes is crucial. By planning safe, short and well-maintained routes, exposure to urban hazards such as damaged pavements, high-traffic areas or dangerous stairs can be reduced. It is also essential to include regular breaks to prevent excessive fatigue and to ensure a fair distribution of workloads. Well-designed logistics help protect delivery workers’ physical health while ensuring quality service.

2. Risk prevention training

Training plays a fundamental role in reducing accidents. Even for independent delivery workers, it is possible to provide simple, practical content. Learning correct postures when carrying loads, recognising hazardous situations in urban spaces and managing stress when dealing with unexpected events are all essential skills. This knowledge strengthens their independence while creating a culture of prevention, which is still too often lacking in this sector.

3. Psychological support and tackling isolation

Walking delivery work is often performed in considerable isolation. This isolation, combined with deadline pressure, can lead to chronic stress, loss of motivation or more serious difficulties. To address this, it is important to create connections, whether through spaces for delivery workers to talk with one another, internal communication tools or access to external psychological support. Revaluing the human dimension of the profession directly helps reduce psychosocial risks.

4. Suitable work equipment

Equipment is one of the most concrete ways to improve the safety and comfort of walking delivery workers. Ergonomic bags allow loads to be distributed more effectively and help prevent lower back pain. Choosing appropriate personal protective equipment, such as slip-resistant shoes that are weather-resistant, reduces the risk of falls, while clothing suited to weather conditions provides effective protection from rain, cold or heat. As visibility is also an issue, reflective elements should be part of the basic uniform.

By acting at each of these levels, it is possible to build a safer and more respectful working environment for walking delivery workers. These measures are a first step towards broader recognition of their needs. And because one of the first ways to achieve greater safety and comfort is to choose appropriate personal protective equipment, we invite you to browse our range of shoes, discover our models or contact our Shoes For Crews experts, leaders in slip-resistant footwear since 1984, who can guide you in finding the perfect option for your needs.