A choice that maximizes “picking efficiency” and “safety” at warehouses and logistics sites: Why do professionals choose Hasegawa Kogyo’s portable workbench?

The logistics market in Vietnam is currently achieving rapid growth against the backdrop of developments in e-commerce and manufacturing, with a market size of approximately 80.6 billion USD in 2024 and a projected annual growth rate of 6.4% moving forward. With the increase in cargo volume, picking operations within warehouses are required to have greater “speed” and “accuracy.” However, what likely plagues on-site managers is the “risk of occupational accidents” that exists back-to-back with work efficiency.

“I wanted to reach cargo in a high place, but carrying the heavy iron ladder was troublesome, so I worked in an unreasonable posture” — cases where such on-site “impatience” or “corner-cutting” leads to serious accidents are never-ending. This article unravels the safety challenges facing logistics sites in Vietnam using data, and explains why Hasegawa Kogyo’s (Hasegawa Vietnam) “Aluminum Portable Work Platforms” are now being chosen by professionals aiming to balance efficiency and safety.

In Vietnam’s industrial sector, “falls and crashes” during work at height remain a serious issue. There is data indicating that as many as 60.4% of fatal accidents at construction and manufacturing sites are due to “falls from heights.”

Slip and fall accidents occurring during picking operations in warehouses generate not only injuries to valuable personnel but also immense “hidden costs” such as line stoppages, compensation issues, and the loss of corporate social trust. Especially in Vietnam’s unique high-temperature, high-humidity environment, worker concentration tends to drop, and “a little carelessness” can be fatal. Securing safe footing is no longer just compliance, but an investment for stable business continuity.

At many sites, cheap iron work platforms or simple welded ladders are used due to cost reasons. However, iron is approximately three times heavier than aluminum.

For example, the task of moving a heavy iron work platform every time the picking point changes in a large warehouse places a heavy physical load on workers. This “reluctance to move” is the biggest cause of unsafe behavior, such as “reaching out to the cargo on the next shelf without moving the work platform.” Additionally, heavy equipment slows down movement speed, becoming a factor that drives down the number of picks per day.

The core of the solution proposed by Hasegawa Kogyo lies in the “lightness” that maximizes the characteristics of the material: “aluminum.”

Overwhelmingly lighter than iron versions, aluminum work platforms can be moved smoothly with light force even by female or elderly workers. If moving becomes easy, workers will no longer hesitate to set the platform in the appropriate position, resulting in fewer operations in unreasonable postures and reduced accident risks. Furthermore, rust-resistant aluminum does not easily deteriorate even in Vietnam’s high-humidity environment, making it possible to suppress long-term maintenance costs.

There is no compromise on safety, not just efficiency. Hasegawa Vietnam’s portable work platforms (e.g., Light Step, various work platforms) are equipped with the following professional functions.

Hasegawa Kogyo’s product philosophy, “Reliability you can feel when you step on it,” is not merely a catchphrase.

We do not just clear catalog figures (such as load capacity) but thoroughly eliminate the “wobble” and “squeaking” felt when a person actually steps on the product. Humans unconsciously tense their muscles when their footing is unstable, causing fatigue to accumulate; however, Hasegawa’s work platforms provide workers with “peace of mind like standing on the ground” by suppressing wobbling to the utmost limit.

Supporting this quality are tests conducted at global bases, including the Danang factory. For example, we conduct verification under strict internal standards in addition to public standards like JIS and SG, such as repeated durability tests of 100,000 cycles assuming “100 ascents and descents per day, 5 days a week.”

Hasegawa Vietnam is a core hub in the global supply chain exporting products to markets with strict quality requirements, such as Japan and the United States.

For customers within Vietnam, there is a significant advantage in being able to “procure domestically” products of “Japanese quality” without import costs or long lead times. Additionally, because the factory is located in Danang, rapid response is possible in terms of after-sales support, such as procuring replacement parts or consulting on custom sizes.

Productivity improvement in warehouses and logistics centers depends on how smooth worker “movement” is made and reducing downtime due to “accidents” to zero.

“Heavy and hard-to-use equipment” invites worker fatigue and becomes a breeding ground for unsafe behavior. In contrast, Hasegawa Kogyo’s aluminum portable work platforms shorten movement time with their “lightness” and protect worker safety with their “sturdiness.”

The price as an initial investment may be higher than iron products, but considering the reduction in accident risks, improvement in work speed, and durability that resists rust and lasts a long time, the ROI (Return on Investment) can be said to be extremely high.

To take the “safety” and “efficiency” of your logistics site to the next level, please experience the quality of “Reliability you can feel when you step on it,” made at the Danang factory.