Trucking Initiative

	Contact Us   Join this e-mail list
	Related L&I Topics >  Recognize and Prevent Workplace Bullying >  Pandemic and Avian Influenza >  More Health and Safety Resources >  Food Flavorings and Lung Disease (Diacetyl)

TIRES prevents injuries in the trucking industry

The SHARP program at L&I is conducting in-depth occupational safety and health work in the Washington State trucking industry to identify work environments that put trucking workers at increased risk of injury. The Trucking Injury Reduction Emphasis (TIRES) project identifies risk factors for worker injury, and works with the industry to create and share prevention strategies. Project direction and publications are reviewed by an industry and labor steering committee to ensure useful information is developed for trucking companies and employees.

The goal of the TIRES project is to reduce the incidence of:

1. Non-traumatic musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, back and upper extremity.
2. Slips, trips and falls.
3. Injuries from getting struck by or against an object.

These conditions comprise 71% of the industry's workers' compensation claims, costs and lost workdays.

See the TIRES Publications for injury prevention materials developed specifically for the trucking industry.

The TIRES project is supported in part by federal funding from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

TIRES project staff defined systematic data collection methods as part of this project including detailed analysis of injury data, interviews of injured workers, site visits, and "ride-alongs" with truck drivers in different sectors of the industry.

Specific outreach goals

1. Build and maintain partnerships with representatives from both management and labor within the trucking industry.
2. Maintain the Web site KeepTruckingSafe.org (www.KeepTruckingSafe.org) for additional safety resources available to the trucking industry.
3. Publish technical reports describing injuries, trends and costs within the trucking industry by sector through analysis of state workers' compensation data.
4. Conduct case follow-up interviews with injured workers to identify risk factors and solutions for the injury types listed above.
5. Conduct industry-wide surveys of both employers and employees to identify hazards and risk factors for the targeted injury types, needs and possible solutions based on company type and size.
6. Develop and promote the use of educational materials and other interventions to reduce hazards and injuries within trucking.
7. Disseminate findings and information to people within the Washington trucking industry who can work to reduce injuries.
8. Produce a trucking industry specific online safety manual to assist smaller companies in the development of their safety plans.

Injury prevention material

Information learned through data analyses, telephone case follow-up interviews, onsite visits, employer and employee surveys, and other follow-up activities is being used to identify root causes that can be addressed to prevent injuries.

Trucking industry specific injury prevention materials may be downloaded and copied as needed.