How Can I Help Avoid Slips, Trips, & Falls

Crashes cost motor carriers money! Whether it is in bent up metal, lost cargo, or an injured employee, the costs add up. But did you know slips, trips, and falls may be the industry’s most overlooked and underappreciated threat to drivers’ health and well-being? In fact, an article in trucknews.com points out that almost 80 percent of trucker fall injuries occur close to the cab and not the trailer, box, catwalk, etc., and more than half occur when dismounting. 

In the real world of trucking, with so many different locations visited in all weather conditions, this subject can become very real, very fast. So much so, in fact, that Bureau of Labor Statistics’ data show that 27 percent of injuries in the truck transportation industry come from slips, trips, and falls, vs. just 17 percent from injuries sustained in a collision or other motor-vehicle-related incident.  

Slip, trip, and fall injuries can have a major impact on a company’s bottom line. Workers’ compensation loss data for our own trucking customers indicates that the average slip/fall on the same level costs over $30,000, and the hidden “indirect” costs can be five times that or more. Awareness of this high cost provides proactive managers a real opportunity, as there are many ways to prevent such injuries through fostering a safe work environment.

Here are steps drivers can take for working smarter and preventing slips, trips, and falls so they can get home safely:

1. Always maintain three points of contact when climbing down from or onto a different elevation and set things inside the truck before climbing so your hands are empty. Also, face the climb as you would climbing up or down a ladder—never go out headfirst.
2. Never jump down from elevations such as the floor of your tractor, trailer, cargo, or loading dock to the ground. This can cause immense shock to your musculoskeletal system and result in joint stiffness, torn muscles or tendons, and back pain over time.
3. Plan your steps in securing your load, tarping, or carrying dunnage. When appropriate, obtain help or ask a lift driver to place items.
4. Remain alert to uneven surfaces in the parking lot, dock, and other walking areas. Look to identify hazards, such as potholes and slippery surfaces from ice, grease, oil, or other materials, and exercise appropriate caution.
5. In winter, keep a small pail of kitty litter, salt, or sand mixture to spread on icy areas where you need to walk. 
6. Invest in and wear slip-resistant work boots with solid foot and ankle support.   

Managers can look for ways to enhance a safe work environment through:

1. Management commitment and safe workplace programs.
2. Encouraging the reporting of unsafe work conditions and suggested improvements with a safety committee review if available.
3. Contributing to a driver work-boot program.
4. Searching for ways to empower your employees to be successful and providing driver training so they can bring success back to your business.