When outsourcing labour for your warehouse operations either for container unloading, forklift driving, or pick-and-pack support, it’s essential to ensure you’re working with a professional, compliant, and safety-focused team.
Use this checklist to evaluate whether your logistics labour provider meets the standards you need for a smooth, efficient, and safe warehouse operation:
1. Insurance and Legal Compliance
Before bringing any external crew into your warehouse, it’s essential to ensure the labour provider meets all legal and insurance requirements. This isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s about protecting your operations, your people, and your reputation.
- All crew members are covered by public liability and workers’ compensation insurance
- The labour provider complies with local labour laws and workplace regulations
- Reduces Employee Injuries
2. Proper Licensing and Certification
When it comes to handling machinery or working on high-risk sites, having the right licences and certifications is mandatory. You need to be confident that the crew on your site is fully qualified for the job.
- All forklift operators hold valid LF or LO licenses (as required)
- Relevant team members are First Aid certified (especially for high-risk sites)
- All licenses and certifications are up-to-date and verified
3. Safety and WHS (Workplace Health & Safety) Readiness
Workplace health and safety should always be a top priority in warehouse environments. A professional crew must arrive not only ready to work but also trained and equipped to follow all WHS protocols.
- Crew members follow WHS protocols and participate in toolbox talks
- All team members use the correct PPE (e.g. steel-cap boots, high-vis clothing, gloves)
- Handling training is provided to reduce injury risks
- All equipment (e.g. forklifts, pallet jacks) is pre-checked for safety before use
- Crews are familiar with site-specific emergency procedures
4. Professionalism and Site Integration
It’s equally important that the crews fit into your existing environment well. Even the most experienced workers can slow things down if they don’t respect site protocols or disrupt established workflows.
- Crews arrive on time and ready to work
- All team members can follow warehouse SOPs and adapt to existing workflows
- Supervisors or team leads communicate effectively with your in-house staff
- Crews respect site rules, confidentiality, and maintain a clean work area
5. Operational Capability and Support
When hiring a professional warehouse crew, one of the first things to assess is their operational capability. A reliable provider should be able to assist with a broad range of tasks.
- Able to assist with a range of tasks:
- Container loading/unloading
- Palletising
- Forklift operation
- Picking and packing
- Cross-docking
- General labour
- Can scale workforce quickly for seasonal or urgent demands
- Offers ongoing support and issue resolution if needed
6. Performance Tracking and Accountability
A professional warehouse crew doesn’t just show up; they show results. Look for providers who set clear service expectations from the outset. This might include KPIs such as containers per shift, picking rates, or order accuracy. When everyone knows the targets, it’s easier to measure success and stay aligned.
- Clear service expectations are discussed upfront (e.g. containers per shift, picking rate)
- Feedback is welcomed and performance issues are addressed promptly
- Regular updates or supervisory check-ins are available for longer-term crews
Choosing the right labour provider means finding a partner who can seamlessly integrate with your team, uphold your standards, and adapt to your operational needs.
At Sipena Logistics, we understand that reliability is about more than just showing up.
We understand that how we work reflects on your business too.
Final Tip:
Before you make your next hiring decision, take a moment to review your current provider. Are they meeting the standards that truly matter on the warehouse floor? We’ve put together a practical 19-point checklist to help you assess whether your labour hire partner is ticking all the right boxes when it comes to professionalism, safety, compliance, and reliability.
Download the checklist today and see how your provider measures up because the right crew makes all the difference.
Contact Us Today
Ensure your warehouse operates at peak efficiency with the right team in place. Contact Sipena Logistics for Container Crew and General Labour Hire today to learn more about how our staffing solutions can enhance your operations.