Avoiding Trucking Injuries

The trucking industry has a few of the highest workers’ compensation claim rates due to the high frequency of injuries. In the us, inside the state of Washington alone, workman’s comp claims are really high that this state has come up with an initiative (TIRES Initiative) to prevent while at work injuries while promoting safety. Injury rates in the trucking industry would be the highest for many professional industries combined. Annually, One out of 13 truck drivers in the condition of Washington includes a work-related injury serious enough that they must miss work with an extended time period.

Drivers 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 may be due to the reality that many truckers must unload goods they transport. (Source: As outlined by Knestaut, A. Compensation and 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 will surely have many causes every additional risk factor raises the probability of truck accident injuries. Some of these injuries are caused by: • Overexertion • Contact with or just being struck by a physical object • Falling • Transportation accidents • Repetitive use without adequate rest • Lifting heavy or awkward objects or boxes • Awkward postures such as reaching overhead for lengthy intervals • Gripping something tightly Work-related strains and sprains would be the costliest and quite a few frequent injuries within the trucking industry. Sprains, strains and overexertion accounted for probably the most trucking-related injuries, with costs exceeding $107 million and leading to 576,000 lost-work days. About 70 percent of the injuries were to drivers. Most 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 frequent 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 part of load falls on driver • Costs Workers’ compensation costs • 41% of compensable claims are the consequence of strains and sprains for the neck, back and upper extremity (shoulders, elbows, hands/wrists) • The average cost for a claim is finished $26,000 • Average of 184 time-loss days • Compared with industries • Couriers have almost four times the pace of work-related strains and sprains claims of industries combined. Waste Collection has three and a half times the interest rate and General Freight trucking is close with almost 2 1 / 2 times the pace of work-related strains and sprains of other industries combined. Additional costs Work-related strains and sprains could also increase the price tag on hiring and training, increase turnover and decrease productivity. Sometimes personnel are unable to come back to their full wage jobs after this kind of injury or require extensive life-altering surgeries or treatments to recoup Do something to Equip drivers and operators together with the proper tools essential in helping them avoid injury. To assist 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 all the safety for that operator foremost in your mind. The OPNBartrucker tool, as an illustration will 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 them with a proven method, and guide them a healthy body habits to ensure that they're healthy and safe. These simple precautions might help companies avoid unexpected fees and missed work days.