Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
of.the.nonfatal.injuries.were.serious.sprains.and.strains;.this.may.be.attributed.to.the.
fact.that.many.drivers.must.unload.the.goods.they.transport.
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Roughly.475,000.large.trucks.with.a.gross.vehicle.weight.rating.of.more.than.10,000.
pounds. are. involved. in. crashes. that. result. in. approximately. 5,360. fatalities. and.
142,000.injuries.each.year.(www.OSHA.gov,.2010)..Of.the.fatalities,.about.74 percent.
were.occupants.of.other.vehicles.(usually.passenger.cars),.3.percent.were.pedestri-
ans,.and.23.percent.were.occupants.of.large.trucks..The.unsafe.actions.of.automobile.
drivers.are.a.contributing.factor.in.about.70.percent.of.fatal.crashes.involving.trucks..
More.public.awareness.of.how.to.share.the.road.safely.with.large.trucks.is.needed..
Safe.speeds.save.lives..Exceeding.the.speed.limit.was.a.factor.in.22.percent.of.the.
fatal.crashes..Greater.speed.enforcement.is.needed.
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ommon
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Common.trucker.injuries.include
•.
Strains.and.sprains.(50%).(see.Figure 16.1)
•.
Bruises
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Fractures
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Cuts.and.lacerations
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Soreness.and.pain
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Multiple.traumatic.injuries
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vEnts
or
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xPosurEs
l
EADing
to
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ruCkEr
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njury
Common.events.or.exposures.leading.to.trucker.injury.include
•.
Overexertion
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Contact.with.object
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Being.struck.by.an.object
•.
Falling.(on.the.same.level).(see.Figure 16.2)
•.
Transportation.accidents
oPerAtor recruItment And selectIon
Fleet.safety.may.be.viewed.as.vehicle.safety.or.mechanical.safety,.but.this.type.of.
safety.depends.on.both.maintenance.and.operators..An.operator's.job.must.include.
pre-operation. inspections. and,. upon. completing. his. or. her. use. of. the. vehicle,. the.
reporting.of.any.defects..This.should.be.normal.operating.procedure.for.any.preven-
tive.maintenance.program..Nevertheless,.what.you.can.expect.depends.on.the.quality.
of.your.operators..Operators.are.the.center.of.your.leet.safety.program.
Thus,.in.a.leet.safety.program,.it.is.important.to.select.the.best.operators.for.the.
job..The.operator.is.vital.to.the.prevention.of.accidents,.incidents,.vehicle.damage,.
