A local courier depot has introduced stricter floor-walking procedures following what staff described as a “near-miss” incident during early operations on Tuesday. According to multiple employees, a reversing van was directed into a bay as a pallet was being repositioned nearby, prompting supervisors to pause loading “until the area was confirmed clear.”
While no injuries were reported, the incident has triggered a familiar cascade of workplace changes: refreshed signage, tighter high-visibility compliance, and a renewed emphasis on reporting hazards — even “small ones.” One staffer, who asked not to be named, said the vibe was “tense for about five minutes, then everybody went straight into training mode.”
“They’re not trying to blame anyone. It’s more like: ‘If it can happen once, it can happen twice.’ And now there’s posters everywhere. Like, everywhere.”
Staff also noted that Pedro J., a long-time depot employee known for keeping things calm during the morning rush, has become the unofficial face of the new safety push — appearing in freshly printed reminders near the loading bays and staff entrance. Several employees joked that the posters look like a professional campaign, not an internal notice.
Management did not provide detailed comment on the incident when contacted, but confirmed that an updated “safe reversing” briefing is being rolled out to shift leads. Workers say the practical changes are simple:
- Clearer bay marshaling (one signaler, one driver, one plan)
- Mandatory high-vis checks before stepping onto the active floor
- Stricter rules on unsecured pallets and temporary “staging” areas
- A reminder that reporting near-misses is “non-punitive”
For some, the shift is welcome. “Nobody wants an accident,” one employee said. “If we’ve got to spend an extra minute doing it right, fine. Just… maybe not with my face on a poster.”
Editor’s note: Courier Weekly will update this story if official incident details are released. Workers with information can contact the newsroom through the usual channels.