Abstract
Objective: Multiple heavy truck driver injury studies exist, but there is a paucity of research on light and medium truck driver injuries. The objective of this study was to use first report of injury (FROI) data to: (a) compare demographic and injury characteristics; (b) assess workers’ compensation (WC) claim disposition and lost work time status; and (c) describe injury scenarios by vehicle type for heavy truck and light/medium truck driver local crashes. Method: Kentucky Department of Workers’ Claims FROI quantitative and free text data were analyzed for years 2010–2019. Of 800 total FROIs, 451 involved heavy trucks and 349 involved light or medium trucks. Results: There was a higher light/medium truck driver crash FROI rate compared to the heavy truck driver crash FROI rate. There was a higher proportion of younger light/medium truck driver crash FROIs compared to younger heavy truck driver crash FROIs. The retail trade industry made up the largest percentage of light/medium truck local crash FROIs (47%); the transportation and warehousing industry was most frequently cited in heavy truck FROIs (46%). The heavy truck types most frequently identified in FROIs were semi-trucks (13%) and dump trucks (11%). The most common light/medium truck type identified was delivery trucks (30%). Most commonly, heavy truck crash FROIs involved rollovers, driving off/overcorrecting on narrow roadways, and driving downhill/unable to downshift. Light/medium truck crash FROIs most frequently involved being rear-ended, running red lights, and turning in front of other vehicles. Conclusions: The utilization of WC FROI data highlighted top injury scenarios and specific vehicle types for targeting driver safety training among truck drivers, particularly light/medium truck drivers. Road safety policies regarding driver training, crash reviews, and in-vehicle monitoring systems are needed for truck drivers with previous crash injuries, especially for light and medium truck drivers. Practical applications: Enhanced safety training on speeding on narrow roadways, on nearing intersections, and on downshifting on hills is needed for semi-truck, dump truck, and coal truck drivers with previous crash injuries. Rear-end crash prevention training (e.g., gradual stopping and checking mirrors) is needed for drivers of furniture, automotive parts and accessories, and groceries and soft drink delivery trucks with previous crash injuries.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 26-34 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of Safety Research |
| Volume | 83 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2022 The Authors
Funding
This work was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under Cooperative Agreement Number 6 U60 OH 008483-16. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services. The funding source had no involvement in the study design; data collection, analysis and interpretation of data; writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to submit the article for publication.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | 6 U60 OH 008483-16 |
| National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health | U60OH008483 |
Keywords
- Injury scenarios
- Light truck crash injuries
- Medium truck crash injuries
- Rear-end crash injuries
- Wholesale and retail trade industries
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Building and Construction
- Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality