Poor health drives trucker
injuries
According to the large Truck Crash Causation Study 2006 report, which analyzes
multi-year data of a large number of crashes involving trucks, 88% of the
critical reasons for accidents are attributed to drivers as opposed to vehicle
failure, weather and other conditions. And of that number, 15% fell into
the category of “non-performance” issues such as drivers falling
asleep, having a heart attack, or being disabled by some other physical
impairment.
Why the high number of “non-performance” incidents? According
to a recent Associated Press story by Emily Fredrix, the answer is quite
simple—truckers are too fat, eat badly, don’t exercise regularly,
smoke too much and don’t get enough sleep. The result: truck drivers
account for 15% of the nation’s work-related deaths, and she cites
poor health as a major factor.
"As many as half of drivers are regular smokers, compared to about
one-fifth of all Americans,” writes Fredrix. “Many truckers
are obese, and only about one in 10 get regular aerobic exercise ... Sleep
apnea, which is linked to obesity, is rampant too. An industry study a few
years ago found 28% of drivers had it; that compares with about 4% in the
general population who have the disorder."
Along with being a danger on the road, many truckers have become a danger
to themselves. According to a report by OSHA, strains, sprains and various
other muscular-skeletal injuries make up 50% of all common trucker injuries,
ranging from off-loading cargo to the simple act of stepping in and out
of the cab.
Exacerbating the problem are companies that lack a program for injured drivers
to receive proper medical treatment from an experienced occupational medicine
professional. Also absent is a well-thought-out return-to-work or modified
duty plan.
According to one expert’s report, only one out of every three back
injuries is receiving proper medical treatment. Treatment is being administered
differently in various parts of the country, instead of a national observance
of the evidenced-based guidelines as set forth by the American College of
Occupational and Environmental Medicine or others. With proper treatment
of muscular-skeletal injuries not only does the driver benefit but also
the employers, who can ill afford to lose experienced workers.
More than any other industry, the trucking industry, because of the physical
unfitness of its employees, has an adverse impact on Workers’ Compensation
costs. The result is more truckers going out on medical leave, or leaving
the industry early due to their injuries. This doesn’t bode well for
an industry that has few young people waiting in the wings.
Ultimately, the burden falls on the employer to be more pro-active in taking
part in the wellness of their drivers, to make sure they get proper medical
treatment and to help keep their drivers in shape. To their credit, many
employers are taking the initiative and implementing work-based wellness
programs that include screenings for such issues as sleep apnea, high-cholesterol
and high-blood pressure monitoring, and weight-loss programs. According
to one survey, the result has been a very favorable ROI resulting in a drop
in Workers’ Compensation claims.
The results often speak for themselves. Con-Way Freight of Ann Arbor, Michigan
experienced a 75-80% reduction in lost workdays after it implemented a wellness
program. Other experts cite a $3.14 return for every $1.00 invested in a
well-executed wellness program.
There can be no denying that the trucking industry keeps the nation moving.
This can never be overlooked, nor should it be. But when drivers are out
for an extended medical leave and can’t fulfill their duties because
they fell asleep at the wheel and had an accident, or are injured in a crash
because they can’t get the seat belt around their middle or have a
stroke because of one too many fast-food stops, then no one wins. Not the
customer, not the employer, and certainly not the driver.
Being cognizant of the physical health of the trucker should be of major
importance to every employer. We can’t always control the danger that’s
outside the cab, but with the proper medical strategy in place to assist
the driver in maintaining good health and keeping him on the job, we can
control that potential danger prevalent inside the cab. |