Case Study: Safer Transport & Logistics
Client
Our client is a large logistics provider specialising in freight transport and warehousing. It has a team of 150+ employees based at 8 operational depots across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, as well as the Western Cape and Eastern Cape.
Industry Challenges
Transport and logistics is a high-risk industry when it comes to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), often impacted by issues related to:
- Manual handling & ergonomic risks in warehouses
- Inadequate safety culture across remote & decentralised sites
- Inconsistencies in compliance between operations
- A lack of awareness regarding OHS compliance requirements
- Driver fatigue
- Shift-related health issues
Client Challenges
The company realised that it needed support in improving health and safety aspects due to:
- A sharp rise in vehicle incidents leading to injuries and downtime
- A lack of standardised safety training and hence also incident reporting which complicated putting corrective measures in place
- Receiving Department of Employment and Labour contravention notices at two of its depots
- Recognising poor integration of OHS practices across multiple sites as evidenced during the site inspections
Partnership Objectives
The company partnered with Labournet to:
- Implement an OHS management system nationally
- Achieve consistent OHS compliance across all sites
- Reduce workplace injuries and related costs
- Improve health and safety awareness
- Mitigate the risk of fines and penalties related to non-compliance
Solutions Provided
We worked closely with the team to gain a deeper and more holistic understanding of their specific needs beyond the challenges that they outlined initially.
Doing so would support them in minimising risks related to aspects which they had not considered yet. A project plan was put in place to ensure that all ran smoothly and that all involved were held accountable for their responsibilities.
Nationwide baseline OHS compliance audits were conducted at each depot. These site-specific compliance audits assessed:
- Warehouse storage practices & compliance
- Extent of correct and safe management of Hazardous Chemical Agents (HCAs)
- First aid capabilities
- Compliance with required OHS signage
- Emergency preparedness
- Depth of staff training
- Adherence to required legal appointments
A report was produced per site, indicating overall compliance and highlighting key focus areas. Based on these, we put a series of mitigations in place to support compliance and to ensure better OHS practices going forward. This included the following:
| Key Focus Area | Labournet’s Involvement |
|---|---|
| Standardised OHS Management System Roll-Out |
− Developed an OHS management plan − Created a Group-wide OHS policy in conjunction with management − Developed a baseline risk assessment along safe work procedures for high-risk activities for each site − Supported each depot with assigning a responsible person who became the key contact person at each site |
| Incident Reporting Standardisation |
− Developed a standardised incident management procedure − Supported appointment of incident investigators |
| Training and Capacity Building |
− Delivered ‘toolbox talks’ and refresher training for warehouse teams − Delivered legal compliance training for managers and supervisors − Conducted training for first aiders, fire marshals, and OHS representatives across all regions − Delivered training specifically for incident investigators |
The Outcome
The client partnered with us to build a structured, sustainable approach to OHS across its operations. Through nationwide baseline compliance audits, each depot’s level of compliance was assessed against legislative requirements and operational best practice, providing the client with a clear understanding of both immediate risks and longer-term priorities.
Each site received a detailed compliance report outlining key findings and practical recommendations. This enabled the organisation to address compliance gaps systematically, strengthen health and safety practices across all locations and establish greater accountability for ongoing compliance.
The result was a more consistent approach to OHS, improved visibility of organisational risk and a stronger foundation for maintaining compliance across the business.
Key Considerations for the Industry
- OHS implementation in logistics must address both driver and depot safety
- The risk assessment is a critical step in the implementation process and when done correctly, lays the foundation for creating a safer workplace
- Continuous training and empowerment of staff is important in improving the overall safety culture
- A functional OHS management system improves productivity and staff morale while reducing the likelihood of costly incidents
