Avoiding Trucking Injuries

The trucking industry has a few of the highest workers’ compensation claim rates because high frequency of injuries. In the usa, inside the condition of Washington alone, workman’s comp claims are so high the state has developed an initiative (TIRES Initiative) to prevent at work injuries while promoting safety. Injury rates within the trucking industry will be the highest for those professional industries combined. Annually, One out of 13 truckers within the state of Washington has a work-related injury serious enough that they have to miss work for an extended time period.

Truckers had more nonfatal injuries (over 151,000) than workers in a other profession. Of these injuries, 50% in the nonfatal truck accident injuries were serious sprains and strains; this might be caused by the truth that many truck drivers must unload the products they transport. (Source: As outlined by Knestaut, A. Compensation and dealing Conditions, 1997, Fall) Work-related strains and sprains are injuries to muscles, tendons and nerves which can be referred to by doctors and researchers as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Strains and sprains may have many causes every additional risk factor enhances the chance of truck accident injuries. Some of these injuries are due to: • Overexertion • Contact with or being struck by an object • Falling • Transportation accidents • Repetitive use without adequate rest • Lifting heavy or awkward objects or boxes • Awkward postures like reaching overhead for very long amounts of time • Gripping something tightly Work-related strains and sprains are the costliest and quite a few frequent injuries in the trucking industry. Sprains, strains and overexertion included one of the most trucking-related injuries, with costs exceeding $107 million and resulting in 576,000 lost-work days. About 70 % of these injuries were to drivers. Lots of the injuries occurred while connecting or disconnecting a trailer to the truck or opening stuck trailer doors. Strains and sprains include: • Back pain • Shoulder pain • Muscle strain • Tendonitis • Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) • Tennis elbow (epicondylitis) • Other common trucker injuries include bruises, fractures, cuts and lacerations, soreness and pain, and multiple traumatic injuries. Coming from all these, the most common situations where truck accident injuries occur include: • Vehicle accidents • Carpal tunnel injury • Strained wrists from opening tough to open containers • Strains and back injuries from lifting and moving items or releasing 5th wheel to take out tractor from trailer • Slip and falls climbing in or out of the cap or trailer • Accidents while loading or unloading trailer • Slip and falls on docks • Crush injuries where portion of load falls on driver • Costs Workers’ compensation costs • 41% of compensable claims are the consequence of strains and sprains to the neck, back and upper extremity (shoulders, elbows, hands/wrists) • The average cost for the claim has ended $26,000 • Average of 184 time-loss days • Compared with industries • Couriers have almost 4x the pace of work-related strains and sprains claims of most industries combined. Waste Collection has three and a half times the pace and General Freight trucking is close with almost two and a half times the rate of work-related strains and sprains of most other industries combined. Additional costs Work-related strains and sprains also increase the price of hiring and training, increase turnover and reduce productivity. Sometimes staff are struggling to go back to their full wage jobs after this kind of injury or require extensive life-altering surgeries or treatments to extract Take the appropriate steps to Equip drivers and operators using the proper tools needed to help them avoid injury. To help offset these unwanted expenses we introduce OPNBar, a Trucker Tools, tire thumper, and 5th wheel release hook. Our product was originally suitable for rasing and lowering truck trailers and shipping container doors with the safety to the operator foremost in your mind. The OPNBartrucker tool, as an illustration may help avoid some injuries by providing an ergonomic way of opening shipping containers, checking for low pressure tires, and aiding operators in releasing the tractor through the trailer. Educate truckers, equip all of them with a practical system, and guide them good health habits to keep them safe and healthy. These simple precautions may help companies avoid unexpected fees and missed work days.