Stairs are where delivery driver injuries happen. You're carrying a 15kg box, you're in a rush, the steps are wet, your steel caps have worn tread, and one slip sends you and the parcel tumbling. According to Safe Work Australia slips, trips, and falls, falls on stairs are one of the most common causes of serious workplace injury in Australia. For delivery drivers who navigate stairs dozens of times a day — apartment blocks, split-level houses, elevated porches, business mezzanines — the risk is constant.
Before You Start Climbing
Assess the stairs. Take one second to look before you step. Are they wet? Covered in leaves or moss? Is the railing secure? Are there loose boards on a timber deck? Are the steps even or uneven? Outdoor residential stairs are often poorly maintained — uneven heights, no handrail, cracked concrete.
Check the weight. Can you safely carry this parcel up stairs while maintaining your balance? If the parcel is heavy enough that you can't hold it with one hand while gripping a handrail with the other, it may be too heavy for a stair carry. Consider leaving it at the bottom with a card, or asking the customer to meet you at ground level.
One trip, one parcel. Don't try to carry multiple boxes up stairs at once. Stacking parcels blocks your view of the steps and shifts your centre of gravity. Make two trips — it's slower but vastly safer.
Technique
Use the handrail. If one is available, always use it. Carry the parcel in one hand or against your body with one arm, and grip the rail with the other. The handrail is your safety net if you slip.
Feet first, eyes down. Watch each step as you place your foot. Don't look at the door or the customer — look at where your feet are going. Step fully onto each tread, not just the edge.
Coming down is more dangerous than going up. Most stair falls happen on the way down. You're moving faster, gravity is working against you, and if you slip, you fall further. Slow down on the descent, use the rail, and don't rush even if the customer's waving goodbye.
Wet stairs: After rain, timber decks and tiled steps become ice rinks. Reduce your step length, place your feet flat (not heel-first), and move deliberately. If stairs look dangerously slippery, leave the parcel at the bottom and explain to the customer why.
When to Say No
You are not required to carry heavy freight up multiple flights of stairs if it's unsafe. If a parcel weighs over 20kg and there are three flights of stairs with no lift, it's reasonable to deliver to the ground floor and let the customer know. Your safety takes priority over a delivery location preference.
Document any stair-related hazards you encounter regularly — broken steps, missing handrails, permanently slippery surfaces. This information helps if you ever need to explain why you didn't deliver to a specific location, and it protects you if an injury claim arises.