Heavy Duty Trucking, April 2019
HDT APRIL 2019 32 WWW TRUCKINGINFO COM rucking can be a hazardous profession for drivers and thats before the driver has even set foot in the cab or put the vehicle in gear For good reason fleets focus much of their attention on minimizing risks on the road but there are also risks when a driver is on his or her feet due to the risk of a fall In fact slips trips and falls may be the industrys most overlooked and underappreciated threat to drivers health and wellbeing The Bureau of Labor Statistics data for 2017 show that 27 of injuries in the truck transportation industry came from slips trips and falls vs just 17 from injuries sustained in a collision or other motor vehicle related incidents Fleet managers who want to keep their drivers safe and reduce lost time accidents and injuries not to mention reduce injury claims have an opportunity to make a significant difference Most injuries can be prevented with a little investment in your drivers along with following common sense practices Invest in feet Dont underestimate the value of your drivers feet They use their feet every day to climb in and out of cabs walk around shipping yards and kick things out of the way They need the best protection possible and that does not come with cowboy boots rubber overshoes or flip flops If you are not providing a shoe allowance for your drivers consider it It encourages drivers to invest in steel toed ANSI certified safety shoes to protect their feet Invest in equipment If your equipment isnt properly maintained and repaired slips and falls can happen because of missing or damaged steps and handholds Check that drivers are both reporting these defects and getting a proper response from the shop 1 2 Jumping is for trampolines Some drivers have the bad habit of jumping from the backs of trailers loading docks and their cabs It may seem like a short distance but every time you jump down from even a short height your body has to absorb the impact of the landing The higher up you are the higher the impact with your joints and lower back taking the most punishment As drivers age those jolts to the joints will catch up to them if they dont immediately injure themselves by landing the wrong way 3 Proper footwear is key to preventing slips trips and falls as is climbing using three points of contact Put it in a pocket Of course the alternative to jumping is to climb using three points of contact two hands and one foot or one hand and two feet It may take a couple of seconds longer but its worth it in the long run when compared to the cost and time lost from injuries But when drivers are carrying tools or a phone it may be a nuisance to have both hands free Thats where pockets come in one of those simple technologies that we often take for granted but they are extraordinarily useful 4 By Jane Jazrawy CarriersEdge 6 tips to end injuries from slips trips and falls SAFETY COMPLIANCE T PHOTOS CARRIERSEDGE
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