RPM Trucking Industry Safety

Bodily reaction, overexertion, and falls on the same level continue to be the leading injury events affecting Manitoba’s trucking industry. A recurring theme across these injury event categories is movement around the truck and trailer.

Whether the injury stems from lifting, climbing, twisting, or slipping, many incidents occur during routine tasks performed outside the cab. Simply telling drivers to “be careful” or “watch for ice” is not enough to prevent injuries. When we look deeper into these events and the factors surrounding them, the picture becomes more complex.

These injuries rarely come from a single cause; instead, they result from multiple contributing factors involving the worker, the work environment, and the equipment. Understanding these factors is critical for developing targeted prevention programs.

Key Contributing Factors to Overexertion, Bodily Reaction, and Same-Level Fall Injuries

Pre Task Conditions: The Worker’s Physical Readiness

Understanding what drivers were doing just before the task that caused the injury.

• Were they sitting for a long period in the cab?
• Prolonged sitting can lead to muscle weakness, fatigue,
  and stiffness, which reduces mobility when drivers suddenly transition to physical tasks.
• Was the previous task physically demanding on the same body part (e.g., repetitive motions, heavy lifting, etc.)? 
• Repetitive motions, heavy lifting, or using the same muscle groups repeatedly can lead to fatigue and overuse.

When looking at musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs), they can be caused from accumulative activities. This could be that the previous activity created fatigue, overuse, or improper use, resulting in an injury. 

Temperature 

All drivers will be exposed to various temperatures throughout the year, during long trips or even through a worksite that utilizes temperature-controlled areas. 

• Cold weather can cause muscles and tendons to stiffen, leading to muscle tension and general aches. At the same time, reduced blood flow in the cold limits oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, making them feel tighter and slower to react. Additionally, cold temperatures can affect nerve function, increasing pain sensitivity and discomfort.
• Hot temperatures can increase sweating and lead to dehydration, which often causes muscle cramps and soreness. Heat can also raise inflammation levels in the body, resulting in painful swelling around joints and muscles. Additionally, the body must work harder to regulate temperature in the heat, leading to quicker muscle fatigue and reduced physical performance.

These physiological responses make drivers more vulnerable to MSIs. Consider implementing programs that ensure drivers are dressed appropriately for the temperatures they encounter and include stretching or mobilization of muscles before starting physically demanding tasks. 

Location and Surface Conditions

The environment around the vehicle has a significant influence on the level of risk. Consider the conditions the worker is dealing with:

• Walking surfaces can vary, creating different levels of risk for workers; they may encounter ice, snow, wet or otherwise slippery areas, loose gravel that shifts underfoot, or sloped and uneven gradients that affect balance and traction.

Consider implementing:

• Footwear that provides good traction control and ankle support
• Note that winter-specific footwear has treads that
  do not get stiff in cold temperatures, maintaining good traction
• Traction aids that can be easily used and removed
• Certain yards, delivery points, or customer sites may consistently present higher hazards.

Consider implementing:

• A process to notify the site to remove or control these hazards
• Provide drivers with site-specific notifications to prepare them for hazards
• Good lighting at the sites, flashlights and/or head lamps

Building a Safer Industry

Employers are encouraged to evaluate their injury and near-miss data to identify trends and implement more effective preventive measures across their operations. The goal is to reduce workplace MSIs to ensure a healthier and safer trucking industry in Manitoba. 

For employers seeking guidance, RPM Trucking Industry Safety can provide additional support and resources to help reduce workplace injuries and strengthen your injury prevention programs. Contact RPM Trucking Industry Safety at 204-632-6600 or info@trucking.mb.ca, or visit our website to learn more at www.rpmsafety.ca.