Work related injuries in Washington State's Trucking Industry, by industry sector and occupation.
BACKGROUND
The trucking industry continues to have some of the highest work-related injury and illness rates and costs of any industry in the United States. Until recently, little focus has been placed on addressing non-motor vehicle collision related injuries within the trucking industry. Drivers are exposed to multiple physical risk factors that contribute to occupational injuries in order to complete their job duties, such as loading/unloading freight, decoupling trailers, strapping down loads and ingress and egress from the cab and trailer. About one-fourth of all truck driver injuries in the United States are related to slips, trips, and falls near the truck.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this descriptive study is to report on recent injuries in the trucking industry in Washington State. Data are presented by occupation and industry sector, in order to better understand the magnitude of specific injuries in terms of time-loss days and workers' compensation costs.


METHODS
All accepted, compensable (time-loss) claims from 2005 to 2010 within the trucking industry in Washington State were reviewed. Counts, rates, median and quartile data are presented. Logistic regression models are presented to identify factors associated with more severe claims.


RESULTS
Non-traumatic musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, back and upper extremities are the most frequent injuries across all industry sectors and occupations in the trucking industry. Vehicle related claims had the highest median costs and time loss days and Courier and Messenger claims had the highest risk for higher time loss claims. Injuries varied substantially by sector and within sectors by occupation.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important to review work-related injuries within the trucking industry by sector and occupation in order to maximize limited resources for injury prevention within this important sector.
Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention (SHARP) Program, PO Box 44330, Olympia, WA 98501-4330, USA. Electronic address: smcb235@LNI.wa.gov.
Caroline K
CK
Smith
Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention (SHARP) Program, PO Box 44330, Olympia, WA 98501-4330, USA. Electronic address: joni235@LNI.wa.gov.
Jena
J
Williams
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007345:Insurance Claim Review / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D009790:Occupations / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014861:Washington; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
Logistic regression; Musculoskeletal disorders; Occupational injuries; Population based; Rates; Time loss; Truck drivers