Sensitivefragile

Sensitivefragile is a label used in logistics to indicate that an item requires heightened care in handling because it is both sensitive to certain conditions and physically fragile. The term combines the notions of environmental sensitivity—such as vulnerability to temperature, humidity, light, or vibration—with fragility of the object itself. It is not a standardized international classification; rather, it appears in various shipping guides, software tagging systems, and warehouse procedures as a nonofficial descriptor.

In practice, applying the sensitivefragile tag prompts specific handling requirements. These may include manual loading and unloading, minimal stacking, enhanced cushioning, dedicated packaging, climate-controlled transport, and strict routing. Documentation and labeling may be adjusted to communicate risks to carriers, couriers, and warehouse staff; in some cases, it accompanies other labels such as FRAGILE or HANDLE WITH CARE and adds explicit environmental controls or chain-of-custody steps.

Limitations of the term include lack of standardization and potential ambiguity about what constitutes 'sensitive' versus 'fragile.' Misapplication can increase risk of damage or confusion. To reduce confusion, many operations supplement sensitivefragile with precise specifications, such as required temperature range, humidity level, shock limits, or maximum handling repetitions.

Related concepts include FRAGILE, HANDLE WITH CARE, and CLIMATE CONTROL.