Injury prevention tips for truck drivers
Driving requires a lot of focus. Sometimes the
rough terrain can make the driving experience hard for the driver, even leading
to accidents or injuries. Truck drivers have the propensity to focus a lot of
their attention on how they can reduce their risks on the road. But, did you
know that the roads are not the only areas where a light or heavy truck driver can get injured? Yes, this is
true. There are some cases when a truck driver can face danger when their
vehicle isn’t even moving.
Here are our top five suggestions for
preventing truck driver fatalities that you can easily follow into your
everyday routine.
5 tips for avoiding common truck driver injuries
1.
Buy the right kind of footwear
Due to the consistent movement of truck drivers like strolling around
shipping yards, climbing in and out of their vehicle or just driving, investing
in a good pair of work boots is essential. In a simple way, it will help them
to prevent accidents. And, the best kind of top-end work boots to avoid
injuries is those:
● Are waterproof and oil-resistant
● With leather uppers
● Include a composite or steel toe (if required
for your driving job)
● Sold with slip-resistant soles
When working in extremely cold weather, it’s necessary to attach ice
cleats to your boots.
2.
Use three points of contact when climbing in
and out of the truck
The most common way a heavy or light truck
driver can suffer from injuries is by slipping and falling. Hence, to prevent
such situations from happening, following the “three points of contact” rule is
vital.
For a secure vehicle entry or exit, obeying
the three points of contact rule is the correct procedure. This rule is
concerned with supporting your body properly by making contact with the truck
in three spots constantly. Three points of contact can contain:
● One hand and two feet
●
Two hands and one foot
3.
Don’t jump off anything
Each time you leap, your lower back and joints must take a force that
is equal to 12 times your body weight. You not only face the risk of landing
the wrong way and harming yourself but also the possibility of getting joint
damage over a period of time. Therefore, when exiting and moving inside the trailer truck or leaving a customer site, make sure to use
the stairs or ladders if offered.
4.
Pay attention to your surroundings
It is quite a natural feeling to move as fast as possible when you are
planning a trip, walking into a customer location or performing your CDL
pre-trip inspections. However, being in a rush to complete your tasks can
sometimes lead to accidents.
Therefore, finish your day-to-day jobs at a controlled pace as it will
give you more time to think and prioritize things. Furthermore, observe your
surroundings carefully and keep an eye out for any potential hazards.
Maintaining a measured pace gives you a better opportunity to:
● Dodge oil spots
● Avoid puddles
● Observing uneven ground
● Prevent any unexpected dangers that could
bring injury
5.
Be cautious when opening truck doors
A light or haulage truck driver must follow a safety procedure to check
for shifted freight when opening the doors of their vehicle. This process
includes the following steps:
●
Position yourself behind the trailer’s left-side door
●
Inspect for pressure from dropped or moved cargo by pressing on the
right-side door
●
Lift the right-side door just a little bit and examine again whether
there is no suction
●
If the cargo has relocated, lock the door and call for assistance
● Let the cargo fall out and drop if you have
already opened the door. Don’t make an attempt to catch it