ACCIDENTS IN THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY

This article describes the results of a voluntary employee injury/illn ess reporting system implemented for the U.S. motor carrier (trucking) industry. Believed to be the largest database of its kind, three thou sand and fifty three (3,053) accidents were reported by a cross-sectio n of over two dozen trucking companies throughout the United States du ring the three-year period of program implementation. Data analyses in dicate that 'slips and falls', followed by 'struck by' and 'overexerti on' injuries were the accident types most frequently reported. In addi tion, detailed accident scenarios were identified, including the four most critical accident problems in the industry, namely those involvin g vehicle ingress and egress, overexertions, motor vehicle collisions, as well as those occurring during vehicle repair and maintenance acti vities. Recommendations emphasizing ergonomic solutions are proposed b earing on issues of improved equipment design, use of personal protect ive devices, employee safety training programs, and facility/vehicle m aintenance programming. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.