Invoice Queries - Why are Heavy Labels being applied and charged on my 3PL invoice?
Why am I being charged for the application of Heavy Labels on my shipments?
Heavy Labels are applied to any cartons above 15 kg. Labelling cartons over 15kg with heavy labels is a widely adopted practice in logistics and warehousing for several key reasons:
- Health and Safety Compliance: In many countries, including the UK, employers are legally required to take steps to protect workers from manual handling injuries. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations (MHOR) suggest labelling loads over a certain weight to alert workers to potential risks. In your case, using "Heavy" labels for boxes over 15kg aligns with this regulation, helping prevent injury by signalling the need for proper lifting techniques or team lifting.
- Industry and Carrier Standards: Companies like Amazon mandate that packages over 15kg must have visible "Heavy" or "Team Lift" labels on multiple sides to ensure they are handled safely during transport. This requirement has been adopted by many logistics companies globally to avoid injuries during transport and warehouse operations
- Operational Efficiency: By labelling heavy items with multiple labels, warehouse staff and transporters can easily spot them from any angle, especially when boxes are stacked. This visibility prevents mishandling, reduces accidents, and ensures safe operations.
Here at Expandly, these labels were introduced to comply with both health and safety regulations and operational best practices, ensuring that heavy loads are handled safely and consistently by all workers involved in the logistics process.
For more details, you can check out the HSE's Manual Handling Guidelines and further guidance on carrier regulations like Amazon’s.
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