The True Cost of Getting Baggage Handling Wrong

The Many Costs of Poor Baggage Handling

Cost of Injuring Staff

• Direct costs: When a staff member is injured on the job, there are costs like medical expenses, worker’s compensation claims, and legal fees that add up quickly. Learn more about risks and preventions when it comes to manual baggage handling in our article "The challenge of (safe) airport baggage handling".
• Indirect costs: The injured worker must take time off, which leads to time recruiting and training replacement workers. Also, the injured worker may have a long recovery time, which leads to an extended absence, or they may suffer long-term injuries like musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) that reduce their ability to return to work at full capacity.

Cost of Lost Productivity

• Decreased efficiency: When staff are injured, fewer employees must manage the same high volume of bags coming in with less support. This can cause delays, slowdowns, and a decrease in operational efficiency. But every minute is valuable in an airport, so it is detrimental for passengers to miss their connections and be unhappy with their traveling experience.
• Increased expenses: Mishandling of baggage during peak times means delays, a decline in productivity, and increased costs for airlines, ground-handling companies, and airports. The expenses of staff overtime, missed slots for flights, and fines can quickly eat away at profit margins and hurt an airport’s reputation.

Cost in Damages

• Decreased customer satisfaction: When baggage is mishandled, that person’s belongings could be damaged. This leads to damaged or lost luggage claims where the airport must pay to compensate or replace the item, and this kind of experience means decreased customer satisfaction.
• Damaged brand image: Negative experiences with an airline brand can cause bad reviews, lost future business, and a perception of unreliability. So, it is important to protect a brand’s image by providing quality, reliable baggage handling.

The Value of Cost-Effective & Safe Baggage Handling

With baggage handlers routinely lifting 20-25 kg (44.1-55.1 lbs.) of irregular loads throughout a day, it is critical for them to have operations that set them up for success and keep them safe to ensure baggage is handled well. The right equipment can have a huge, positive impact on their work and airport operations.

Some commonly used solutions to manage baggage are:

• Conveyor belts and automated systems: These are effective for moving large volumes, but they have limited flexibility and can get congested during peak periods.
• Forklift and cranes: These are ideal for moving bulk goods but struggle to handle smaller, delicate items or operate in tighter spaces.
• Smart and specialised lifting solutions: By using vacuum lifting technology for tasks that require lifting small items or great precision, baggage can be handled with the perfect balance of strength and control. These types of solutions can be found attached to a jib crane or a mobile system.

A Trusted Partner of Airport Baggage Handling

An example of how finding the right solution can add value is London Stansted Airport. Manual handling of baggage was one of their top three causes of injuries, costing them safety, time, and efficiency. They partnered with TAWI to utilise three different kinds of vacuum lifter in their operations to improve how they lifted and moved luggage of diverse size, shape, and weight.

Steve Radford, Head of Baggage & Security Engineering at London Stansted Airport, said “They help us minimize work-related injuries with a robust, ergonomic baggage handling system and improve productivity. After installing the equipment, they could train more than 140 individual staff in just seven days.” Explore the full case.

So, when you are ready to solve the cost of baggage handling and protect your bottom line, reach out to TAWI. A local rep will be happy to help you find a solution that best suits your baggage handling needs.