Trucking Health & Safety

Trucking Health & Safety Michelle Thygesen Cliff Lam Neal Peter

Trucking Industry • Sedentary in Nature • Long Hours • Stressful Fatigue & Drowsiness are major safety concerns

Truck Drivers Track Record • University of Michigan Study • 8,000 fatal accidents involving trucks and automobiles found that more than 70% were the auto driver’s fault

Example • Raymond G. Hosopple • Fell asleep at the wheel of his truck • Diagnosed with Sleep Apnea

Factors that influence Drivers Health • Smoking • Obesity • Hypertension • Alcohol & Drug Abuse • Stress • Poor Eating Habits • Physical Inactivity

Smoking • Leading preventable cause of death in the United States • Study in 1993 • Of 2,945 truck drivers at a trade show 54% reported smoking cigarettes • Of 125 truck drivers working for one company reported 49% were smokers

Obesity • Leading cause of stroke, heart disease, hypertension, sleep apnea and diabetes • Study in 1993 • Of 2,945 truck drivers at a trade show noted that 73% were either overweight or obese

Hypertension • Affects over 50 million people • Study in 1993 • Of 2,945 truck drivers attending a trade show noted through measurement that 33% of the respondents had blood pressure higher than 140/90

Drug & Alcohol Abuse • Study in 1993 • Prevalence of drugs and alcohol in 168 fatally-injured truck drivers noted that alcohol was present in 12.5% of all these drivers

Stress • Condition harmful to an individual which results from the inability to maintain a constant internal environment

Poor Eating Habits • 8 out of 10 leading causes of death are related to what people eat • Study in 1993 • Of 2,945 truck drivers attending a trade show revealed over 80% of these drivers ate only 1 or 2 meals per day and 36% had 3 or more snacks per day

Physical Inactivity • Study in 1993 • 50% of the truck drivers never participated in aerobic exercises and only 8% of these drivers regularly participated in aerobic exercise

GOOD NEWS • It is never too late to begin healthy habits such as: *Smoking Cessation *Eating a Sensible Diet *Exercising

What can we do? • Proper Nutrition • Exercise • Create awareness in work environment • Providing Guidelines

Proper Nutrition • While on the road, there are 2 main factors that determine what drivers eat: • COST • TIME

Solution • Allow more time for eating • Documentation of lunch breaks • Require two breaks for working 8 hours or more

Exercise • Lack of time • Availability of Resources Rolling Strong Gyms

Solution • Gyms along Interstates at truck stops • Trucker’s rate for major fitness centers • Company wide fitness program

Staying in Good Physical Shape • Helps with: • Alertness • Stress • Preventing Illness • Preventing Injuries

Ideal Body Weight • Women: 100 lbs for the first 5 ft, then add 5 lbs for each additional inch • Men:106 lbs for the first 5 ft, then add 6 lbs for each additional inch • Small frame: Subtract 10% form the total • Large frame: Add 10% to the total

Obesity & Overweight • Example of injury situation

Safety Committees • Should be utilized to tie together all of the different factors that can help improve health among the drivers

UPS • Jason Knief (Chairman of the safety committee at UPS, Ames terminal) • “We stress safety throughout our company. We train our people to avoid injury to themselves and others. We do not tolerate unsafe work practices.”

Promoting Safety at UPS • Job Hazard Analysis • Prevention Reports • Injury Data Analysis • Facility Audits • Three Month Action Plan

QUESTIONS?

Trucking Health & Safety