TRANSPORTATION, WAREHOUSING AND UTILITIES

Burden

TWU workers are at risk for a variety of injuries including transportation crashes; slips, trips, and falls; contact with objects and equipment; violence; and electric shock and burns. Injuries of TWU workers can result in pain and suffering to the workers, and sometimes long-term disability that impacts future employment. Employers bear workers’ compensation costs and lost productivity in addition to other associated costs such as replacement and training. There are also societal impacts given how critical TWU workers are to the nation in delivering goods and services. Data illustrate the significance and impact of these injuries:  

• In 2014, over 95,000 occupational injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work in transportation and warehousing. This is an injury rate of 225.2 per 10,000 fulltime workers, the highest reported among private industries.³
• In 2014, higher rates of fatal work injuries in TWU than the average rate for all workers (3.4 per 100,000 fulltime worker equivalents). These include truck transportation (23.9), transit and ground transportation (11.5), support activities for transportation (11.4), and air transport (7.4).³
• In 2012, 65% of on-the-job deaths of truck drivers were due to motor vehicle crashes.⁴

Need

NIOSH is the only federal entity responsible for conducting research and developing recommendations to prevent work-related injuries across all TWU workers. Risk of injuries from vehicle crashes, falls, contact with objects and equipment, violence and electricity remain a concern for TWU workers. Advances in technologies, such as autonomous cars and trucks and mobile and collaborative robots, may present new risks for TWU workers. Research is needed to identify risk factors, evaluate interventions, and explore Prevention through Design (PtD) approaches to improve the safety of vehicles, equipment, and work practices.  

Impact

Surveillance and prevention research with our partners improved aviation safety in Alaska leading to a 53% decrease in fatal crashes from 2000 – 2009 and the prior decade. Additional efforts have resulted in the availability of body shape and size data to manufacturers and designers to help design safer truck cabs. Future research findings can be used by our partners to establish best practices, standards and regulations and has the potential to influence equipment and vehicle design.

Burden

TWU workers, especially those in transportation and warehousing, are involved in work that can result in musculoskeletal disorders. This includes work requiring lifting and moving of materials, and exposure to vibration when riding in vehicles. Musculoskeletal disorders are associated with worker pain, lost work time, delayed return to work, and sometimes lingering disabilities that impact the ability to work, and quality of life.  Employers bear costs associated with workers’ compensation and lost productivity. Recent data shows the prevalence and cost of musculoskeletal disorders in TWU workers in the United States:

• In 2014, higher average of days away from work to recover than the overall average for lost-time injuries or illnesses.³
• In 2014, $1.5 billion in direct costs to businesses due to musculoskeletal disorders.⁵
• From 2002- 2010, musculoskeletal disorders accounted for 40% of all injuries leading to days away from work.³

Need

NIOSH is the only federal entity responsible for conducting research and developing recommendations to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders in TWU. Musculoskeletal disorders remain a significant contribution to TWU workers’ health, safety and well-being. Further efforts should use existing data, such as workers’ compensation data, to identify TWU workers at greatest risk and hazardous working conditions, and to evaluate interventions to reduce and prevent musculoskeletal disorders. Prevention through Design approaches are needed to make work tasks less dangerous. Examples include lifting aids and vehicle and equipment design to reduce vibration exposures.

Impact

Previous research has resulted in the wide dissemination of general guidance on material handling and recommendations specific to baggage handlers. In 2013, NIOSH established the Center for Workers’ Compensation Studies (CWCS) to better use workers’ compensation data to improve workplace safety and health in all workers. This Center provides considerable opportunity to research the causes and prevention of musculoskeletal disorders among TWU workers. Future research will help partners focus prevention efforts on the most effective strategies to reduce musculoskeletal disorders.

Burden

The demands of many TWU jobs make it difficult to lead a healthy lifestyle. For truck drivers it can be challenging to access healthy foods and exercise while on the road. Fatigue, long hours of work, and irregular work schedules remain contributors to motor vehicle crashes and injuries in TWU workers. Recent data illustrate challenges and health concerns for TWU workers.

• In 2010, 12% worked greater than 60 hours per week, 34% worked a non-standard shift, and 9% reported a hostile work environment.⁶
• Based on a decade of data from 1997 to 2007, TWU workers had a high number of health conditions including obesity (26%), hypertension (20%), and diabetes (4%).⁷
• These same data showed that only 30% of TWU workers had seen a primary health care provider in the 12 months prior to being interviewed.⁷

Need

NIOSH is the only federal entity responsible for conducting research and developing recommendations to address the health and well-being of TWU workers. Research is needed to better understand how working conditions for TWU workers impact their health and well-being. Additionally, research is needed to determine the best methods for employer-based programs and to evaluate return-on-investment.

Impact

Previous work has been used to raise awareness about health concerns for TWU workers, for example, we disseminated an infographic on obesity risks for truck drivers and have communicated a number of research findings through the NIOSH Science Blog. Our findings have helped identify areas requiring additional research. For example, the National Academies cited our work in support of expanding research into the causes and prevention of fatigue in commercial drivers. Our partnerships with labor, industry, government and academia pave the way for future research to be used to improve the health and well-being of TWU workers.

Burden

TWU workers can be exposed to a wide range of chemical, biological, psychosocial and physical agents. This includes exposures of truckers to diesel exhaust and particulate matter, exposure of airline and sanitation workers to infectious agents, exposure of warehouse workers to carbon monoxide and noise, and exposure of utilities workers to animal bites and radiation. Much TWU work is done outdoors exposing workers to extremes in heat, cold, insects and animals.

Recent data shows:

• Over half of TWU workers work outside⁶
• 40% of TWU workers are exposed to vapors, gas, dusts and fumes⁶

Need

NIOSH is the only federal entity responsible for conducting research and developing recommendations to reduce the exposure of TWU workers to dangerous substances, agents and environments. The health impacts of many of the substances that TWU workers are exposed to have not been adequately researched, and work is needed to characterize the exposures and assess impacts on health. For some recognized hazardous exposures, work is needed to develop and evaluate real-time detection and biomonitoring. For all types of exposures, research is needed to develop and evaluate interventions. Finally, future research should address risks to TWU workers of emerging infectious diseases such as Zika and effective protection strategies.

Impact

Previous research has helped characterize health impacts of TWU worker exposures and prudent safety measures. This includes information and guidance for airline crews and workers exposed to electric and magnetic fields. We also worked with partners to communicate guidance, based on the best available information, on protecting workers from the Zika virus and Ebola. By working with our partners, we can help raise awareness about risks for TWU workers and exposures of concern. Work with our partners will also help foster the use of future research to develop and implement best practices, standards and regulations to protect TWU workers from exposures that jeopardize their health and well-being.