In Washington State, the Department of Labor & Industries this month launched an Internet blog designed to help truck drivers avoid one of the biggest pitfalls of the job: personal injury.
The blog is called TIRES (the Trucking Injury Reduction Emphasis Project) and was developed by the state’s Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention (SHARP) program.
In research conducted by SHARP, the trucking industry jumps out as having some of the “highest injury claims and workers’ compensation rates in the state.” It is probably a good bet that Washington is not an anomaly in this regard.
With TIRES, the state is hoping truckers can avoid injuries from slips, falls, collisions and other hazards, according to the announcement distributed by the state’s Department of Labor & Industries.
Truckers are encouraged to sign up for the blog and share their stories about recognized hazards, and ways they have been able to minimize the risk associated with those hazards.
In Washington, the most common injuries reported by truckers include slips, falls, strains, sprains, being struck by an object, and motor vehicle collisions.
Access the blog through the TIRES web site, www.KeepTruckingSafe.org, or go directly to Tires.lni.wa.gov.
What about your own experiences? As a trucker, do you believe your industry is riskier than most others? Post your thoughts and stories here.