Assessment of perceived injury risks and priorities among truck drivers and trucking companies in Washington State.

PROBLEM

The trucking industry experiences one of the highest work-related injury rates. Little work has been conducted previously in the United States to assess the hazards, needs, and injury prevention priorities in trucking.

METHOD

Two separate industry-wide surveys of 359 trucking companies and 397 commercial truck drivers were conducted in Washington State.

RESULTS

Trucking companies and drivers both ranked musculoskeletal and slip, trip, fall injuries as the top two priorities. Controlling heavy lifting, using appropriate equipment, and addressing slippery surfaces were frequently listed as solutions. There appears to be a gap in safety climate perception between workers and employers. However, driver and company priorities agreed with industry workers' compensation claims. There is room for safety program management improvement in the industry. The study findings detail opportunities for prioritizing and reducing injuries.

IMPACT ON INDUSTRY

This information can be used to focus and design interventions for the prevention of work-related injuries while improving industry competitiveness.