Strains and Sprains:
The Most Costly Injuries in Trucking

Work-related strains and sprains are injuries to muscles, tendons and nerves that are referred to by doctors and researchers as musculoskeletal disorders or MSDs. Strains and sprains can have many causes and each additional risk factor increases the likelihood of injury. Risk factors for muscles, tendons and nerves include:

• Repetitive use without adequate rest
• Lifting heavy or awkward objects or boxes
• Awkward postures such as reaching overhead for long periods of time
• Gripping something tightly

Work-related strains and sprains include:

• Back pain
• Shoulder pain
• Muscle strain
• Tendonitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)
• Tennis elbow (epicondylitis)

Costs

Work-related strains and sprains are the most costly and most frequent injuries in the trucking industry.

Workers’ compensation costs

• 41% of compensable claims are the result of strains and sprains to the neck, back and upper extremity (shoulders, elbows, hands/wrists)
• The average cost for a claim is over $26,000
• Average of 184 time-loss days

Compared to other industries
Couriers have almost four times the rate of work-related strains and sprains claims of all industries combined. Waste Collection has three and a half times the rate and General Freight trucking is close with almost two and a half times the rate of work-related strains and sprains of all other industries combined.

Additional costs
Work-related strains and sprains also increase the cost of hiring and training, increase turnover and decrease productivity. Sometimes workers are unable to return to their full wage jobs after such an injury or require extensive life-altering surgeries or treatments to recover

Source: KeepTruckingSafe.org

Trucking Industry has Highest Workers’ Compensation Claim Rates in Washington State

The trucking industry has some of the highest workers’ compensation claim rates and costs in Washington State.  Claims are so high that they have an initiative for preventing on the job injury, called the TIRES Initiative.

The TIRES research team is working with industry leaders, safety and health professionals, employers, drivers, warehouse and dock workers, and many others to develop educational materials that identify hazards and provide low-cost, simple solutions to prevent injuries in the trucking industry.

Click here for more info:

Equip operators with the proper tools needed and promote safety to help them avoid injury.

The OPNBar tool, for instance, can help avoid some injuries by providing an ergonomic means of opening shipping containers, checking for low-pressure tires, and aiding operators in releasing the tractor from the trailer. Please be sure to read OPNBar Extended Instructions & Precautions Safer Grip by OPNBar™️ are ideal work gloves for all-day use for light manufacturing, warehouse operators, and for use in maintenance areas.  Safer Grip gloves by OPNBar are ideal multi-purpose work gloves for various applications like trucking and delivery, warehouses, maintenance areas, light manufacturing, and carpentry. They are also great for gardening, and various outdoor activities that require grip in wet conditions, like boating, fishing, hiking, and biking, and can help protect hands while providing extra grip when handling tools and materials.

Did you know that trucking, cargo and insurance companies lose billions a year due to operator injury?

Did you know 50% of all trucking injuries are sprains/strains?  Check out our infographic on workplace injuries, costs and causes:

Trucking and Warehouse Injuries, Costs and Causes

Trucking Safety

Trucking is one of the highest injury professions.  Some states have such a high rate of injury for truck drivers that there are initiatives to help protect drivers.  Truck driving can be a tough job, but someone’s got to do it.  The trucker cab front seat is the truck driver’s office.  They provide a vital service that keeps the economy moving, getting products from point A to point B and everywhere else they need to be.

While the road offers some flexible freedom, there is pressure to deliver on time.  One of the keys to delivering on time is to ensure trucking safety.  Here are some tips that can help keep truck drivers safe and healthy.

Trucking Safety #1: Take care of yourself and keep healthy

Keeping fit, eating right, and avoiding injury is a big part of being a safe trucker driver.  Truck drivers are on the road long periods of time, and health issues are part of the job if you don’t take care of yourself.  A big part of truck driver safety has less to do with your vehicle, and more to do with you. Getting enough sleep, eating right, exercising, and taking quality home time will all help you feel more content and refreshed behind the wheel.

Trucking Safety #2: Equip yourself with the right tools for the job

Without the right tools, truck drivers can be prone to injury.  Use tools to help you avoid injury, check tires for low pressure, avoid strains when reaching underneath the trailer, etc.  A tool like the OPNBar can help avoid injuries or strains when opening and closing truck trailer or shipping container doors.  If you don’t have these tools, let your company know about them.  Who knows, you could be promoted for helping to lower workman’s comp claims.

Trucking Safety #3: Reducing Accidents

Equip operators with the proper tools needed and promote safety to help them avoid injury.

The OPNBar tool, for instance, can help avoid some injuries by providing an ergonomic means of opening shipping containers, checking for low-pressure tires, and aiding operators in releasing the tractor from the trailer.



Please be sure to read OPNBar Extended Instructions & Precautions

Safer Grip by OPNBar™️ are ideal work gloves for all-day use for light manufacturing, warehouse operators, and for use in maintenance areas.  Safer Grip gloves by OPNBar are ideal multi-purpose work gloves for various applications like trucking and delivery, warehouses, maintenance areas, light manufacturing, and carpentry. They are also great for gardening, and various outdoor activities that require grip in wet conditions, like boating, fishing, hiking, and biking, and can help protect hands while providing extra grip when handling tools and materials.

Trucking Safety #4: Buckle your seatbelt

As with driving any vehicle, your chances of being killed are almost 25 times higher if you are thrown from your vehicle during a crash. Safety belts can keep you from being tossed out a window, from being dragged on the road or from being crushed by your own vehicle or another.

Trucking Safety #5: Don’t speed

Truck drivers have their own speed limit for a reason.  Trucks have much less control when going fast than cars.  Curve and entrance/exit ramp speed limits are intended for small vehicles, not large trucks. Studies show large trucks often lose control or roll over when entering a curve at a posted speed limit due to their high center of gravity.

Trucking Safety #6: Pay attention to driving conditions

Unless you’re on the show, “Ice Road Truckers” if really bad weather is in the forecast, consider taking a detour or pulling over to ride out the storm.  Bad weather conditions contribute to 25 percent of speeding-related large-truck fatalities. Drivers should reduce their speed by one-third on wet roads and by half or more on snow-packed streets.

Trucking Safety #7: Check and recheck blind spots frequently

Truck drivers have many blind spots and no rear view mirror.  Never rely on other drivers to stay out of your blind spots; they may not be aware of the size of your vehicle’s “no zone.” Check your mirrors every 5-8 seconds as well as before you change lanes, turn or merge. This will help you keep track of changing traffic patterns around your truck.

Trucking Safety #8: Watch the road

Pay attention to the road.  Don’t drive distracted or be on your phone.  To safely slow down, a commercial motor vehicle driver should look at least 15 seconds ahead (a quarter-mile on the interstate and one-and-a-half blocks in the city). Paying close attention to the road ahead helps avoid abrupt braking situations and potential accidents.

Trucking Safety #9: Don’t drive drowsy

If you are drowsy, pull over.  Research shows that being awake for 18 hours is comparable to having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent, that is no good. Keep yourself safe and the motorists around you.  Always pay attention to signs of drowsiness like frequent yawning, heavy eyes, blurry vision, and spacing out.  Don’t lose your job, or even worse, kill someone.  Pull over and stay safe.

Did you know that trucking, cargo and insurance companies lose billions a year due to operator injury?

Did you know 50% of all trucking injuries are sprains/strains?  Check out our infographic on workplace injuries, costs and causes:

Trucking and Warehouse Injuries, Costs and Causes

Keep on trucking and be safe out there truckers!

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Workers Comp Rates for Trucking Companies

Workers compensation insurance for trucking companies is expensive. It pays to shop around and find the best deal.

Rates are mostly a function of the number of drivers you have and their salary. These rates also vary tremendously by state with California having the highest rates in the nation. It pays to shop around and get the best deal. We can help you with that.

Here’s a real example based on a truck company with 4 drivers with annual salaries of $38,000/year.

• In Alabama the rate would be $375 per driver per month. So with 4 drivers, it would cost $18,000/year for a workers compensation policy.
• In Mississippi the rate would be $250 per driver per month. With 4 drivers the yearly cost would be $12,000.
• In California the rate, don’t cry, would be $625/month per driver. So 4 drivers would be $30,000 each year. Ouch!

Who Needs Workman’s Comp?

When you have employees, they may get injured while on the job. If you had to pay their medical bills out of pocket, you could go bankrupt faster than a Ferrari in the hammer lane. Workers comp covers your truck drivers if they are injured or disabled while working for you.

This is also commonly called Workman’s compensation, but if you haven’t noticed, there is a growing number of lady truckers. So it’s best to pick a name for the coverage that includes everyone.

The laws for this coverage vary by state, but if you have employees you need this coverage. There are stiff penalties for not covering your employees.

Source: commercialtruckinsurancehq.com

Equip operators with the proper tools needed and promote safety to help them avoid injury.

The OPNBar tool, for instance, can help avoid some injuries by providing an ergonomic means of opening shipping containers, checking for low-pressure tires, and aiding operators in releasing the tractor from the trailer. Please be sure to read OPNBar Extended Instructions & Precautions Safer Grip by OPNBar™️ are ideal work gloves for all-day use for light manufacturing, warehouse operators, and for use in maintenance areas.  Safer Grip gloves by OPNBar are ideal multi-purpose work gloves for various applications like trucking and delivery, warehouses, maintenance areas, light manufacturing, and carpentry. They are also great for gardening, and various outdoor activities that require grip in wet conditions, like boating, fishing, hiking, and biking, and can help protect hands while providing extra grip when handling tools and materials.

Did you know that trucking, cargo and insurance companies lose billions a year due to operator injury?

Did you know 50% of all trucking injuries are sprains/strains?  Check out our infographic on workplace injuries, costs and causes:

Trucking and Warehouse Injuries, Costs and Causes

Proud to be recommended by:

50 Percent of Trucker Injuries are Due to Strains and Sprains

According to Knestaut, A. Compensation and Working Conditions, (1997, Fall)., truck drivers had more nonfatal injuries (over 151,000) than workers in any other occupation in 1995.  Half of the nonfatal injuries were serious sprains and strains; this may be attributed to the fact that many truck drivers must unload the goods they transport.

Of all trucker injuries, strains and sprains make up 50% of injuries.  Work-related strains and sprains are injuries to muscles, tendons and nerves that are referred to by doctors and researchers as musculoskeletal disorders or MSDs. Strains and sprains can have many causes and each additional risk factor increases the likelihood of injury. Risk factors for muscles, tendons and nerves include:

• Overexertion
• Contact with or being struck by an object
• Falling
• Transportation accidents
• Repetitive use without adequate rest
• Lifting heavy or awkward objects or boxes
• Awkward postures such as reaching overhead for long periods of time
• Gripping something tightly

Work-related strains and sprains include:

• Back pain
• Shoulder pain
• Muscle strain
• Tendonitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)
• Tennis elbow (epicondylitis)

Other common trucker injuries include bruises, fractures, cuts and lacerations, soreness and pain, and multiple traumatic injuries.

Costs

Work-related strains and sprains are the most costly and most frequent injuries in the trucking industry.

Sprains, strains and overexertion accounted for the most trucking-related injuries, with costs exceeding $107 million and resulting in 576,000 lost-work days. About 70 percent of these injuries were to drivers. Many of the injuries occurred while connecting or disconnecting a trailer to the truck or opening stuck trailer doors.

Workers’ compensation costs

• 41% of compensable claims are the result of strains and sprains to the neck, back and upper extremity (shoulders, elbows, hands/wrists)
• The average cost for a claim is over $26,000
• Average of 184 time-loss days

Compared to other industries
Couriers have almost four times the rate of work-related strains and sprains claims of all industries combined. Waste Collection has three and a half times the rate and General Freight trucking is close with almost two and a half times the rate of work-related strains and sprains of all other industries combined.

Additional costs
Work-related strains and sprains also increase the cost of hiring and training, increase turnover and decrease productivity. Sometimes workers are unable to return to their full wage jobs after such an injury or require extensive life-altering surgeries or treatments to recover

Source: KeepTruckingSafe.org

Trucking Industry has Highest Workers’ Compensation Claim Rates in Washington State

Injury rates in trucking are far above the state average for all other industries combined.  The trucking industry has some of the highest workers’ compensation claim rates and costs in Washington State.  Claims are so high that they have an initiative for preventing on the job injury, called the TIRES Initiative.

Each year, one in every 13 truck drivers in the state of Washington has a work-related injury serious enough that they have to miss work for a period of time.

The TIRES research team is working with industry leaders, safety and health professionals, employers, drivers, warehouse and dock workers, and many others to develop educational materials that identify hazards and provide low-cost, simple solutions to prevent injuries in the trucking industry.

Click here for more info:

Equip operators with the proper tools needed and promote safety to help them avoid injury.

The OPNBar tool, for instance, can help avoid some injuries by providing an ergonomic means of opening shipping containers, checking for low-pressure tires, and aiding operators in releasing the tractor from the trailer. Please be sure to read OPNBar Extended Instructions & Precautions Safer Grip by OPNBar™️ are ideal work gloves for all-day use for light manufacturing, warehouse operators, and for use in maintenance areas.  Safer Grip gloves by OPNBar are ideal multi-purpose work gloves for various applications like trucking and delivery, warehouses, maintenance areas, light manufacturing, and carpentry. They are also great for gardening, and various outdoor activities that require grip in wet conditions, like boating, fishing, hiking, and biking, and can help protect hands while providing extra grip when handling tools and materials.

Did you know that trucking, cargo and insurance companies lose billions a year due to operator injury?

Did you know 50% of all trucking injuries are sprains/strains?  Check out our infographic on workplace injuries, costs and causes:

Trucking and Warehouse Injuries, Costs and Causes

Citations

This article highlights that approximately 50% of trucker injuries are due to strains and sprains. This statistic aligns with data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which reports that strains and sprains account for 50% of common trucker injuries.

Further supporting this, a study funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that sprains and strains accounted for 60% of injuries reported by long-haul truck drivers.

Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that in 2018, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers had an incidence rate of 109.0 cases per 10,000 full-time workers for strains, sprains, and tears.

These findings underscore the prevalence of strains and sprains among truck drivers, highlighting the importance of implementing preventive measures to reduce the risk of such injuries.

Worn Tires Increase Likelihood of Crash

Consumer Reports has long advocated that truck drivers check their car’s tire pressure monthly to prevent uneven tire wear and tire failure. Now, a new study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reinforces that advice by determining that vehicles driving on tires underinflated by more than 25 percent are three times more likely to be involved in a crash related to tire problems than vehicles with proper inflation. And tires underinflated up to 25 percent run the risk of overheating, leading to failure, and at the very least adversely affecting handling and tread life.

The study looked at crash data from 2005-2007–before tire-pressure monitoring systems were required to be installed on all vehicles. The systems mandated for the 2008 model year alert drivers if any tire drops 25 percent or more below the recommended inflation level of your vehicle. Tire pressure monitoring systems are designed to alert a driver of a tire losing air pressure and are not intended to be used as a substitute for monthly tire pressure checks.

The study also found that five percent of all vehicles studied experienced tire problems immediately before a crash, with 66 percent of those representing passenger cars, 17 percent being SUVs, and the rest being pickups and vans. Half of the tire-related crashes involved a single vehicle, and just 31 percent of single vehicle crashes were not related to tires.

This shows that tire problems are evident in the pre-crash phase, which has a very small window for attempting a crash avoidance maneuver. Rollovers are more common among SUVs that experienced a tire problem before a crash–45 percent rolled over. On the other hand, passenger cars, pickups, and vans experiencing tire problems had fewer than a 25 percent incidence of rollover. Overall, the study concluded that tire problems in the pre-crash phase were more likely to lead in rollover in SUVs than other types of vehicles.

Tire problems combined with other factors, such as bad weather or an inexperienced driver, can increase the likelihood of a crash.

Aside from properly inflating your tires, it is very important to monitor your tire tread depth condition. This study showed that tire-related crashes were more likely as your tire’s tread wears, with accident rates at just 2.4 percent when tires had near full tread depth to 26 percent when the tires were worn- out (0 – 2 /32″ depth). We recommend consumers start shopping for new tires at 4/32″ tread depth while some all-weather grip is still available. At this point tire-related crashes approached 8 percent.

A 2009 NHTSA analysis found that 57 percent of vehicles with tire-pressure monitoring systems had tires that were properly inflated.

The study reiterates the need for motorists to properly maintain their tires. Buying a tire pressure gauge and regularly checking your pressure can help avoid these tire problems and the increase risk of a related crash.

Source: consumerreports.org

Equip truck drivers and operators with the proper tools needed to help them avoid injury.

The OPNBar tool, for instance can help avoid some injuries by providing an ergonomic means of opening shipping containers, checking for low pressure tires, and aiding operators in releasing the tractor from the trailer.

Please be sure to read OPNBar Extended Instructions & Precautions

Truck Driver Safety Tips

Truck driving can be a tough job, but someone’s got to do it.  The trucker cab front seat is the truck driver’s office.  In the back is the trucker’s bedroom, complete with semi truck mattress.  They provide a vital service that keeps the economy moving, getting products from point A to point B and everywhere else they need to be.

While the road offers some flexible freedom, there is pressure to deliver on time.  One of the keys to delivering on time is to ensure safety.  Here are some tips that can help keep truck drivers safe and healthy.  Also check out 7 safety tips for transporting oversized loads.

Take care of yourself and keep healthy

Keeping fit, eating right, and avoiding injury is a big part of being a safe trucker driver.  Truck drivers are on the road long periods of time, and health issues are part of the job if you don’t take care of yourself.  A big part of truck driver safety has less to do with your vehicle, and more to do with you. Getting enough sleep, eating right, exercising, and taking quality home time will all help you feel more content and refreshed behind the wheel.

Equip yourself with the right tools for the job

Without the right tools, truck drivers can be prone to injury.  Use tools to help you avoid injury, check tires for low pressure, avoid strains when reaching underneath the trailer, etc.  A tool like the OPNBar can help avoid injuries or strains when opening and closing truck trailer or shipping container doors.  If you don’t have these tools, let your company know about them.  Who knows, you could be promoted for helping to lower workman’s comp claims.

Equip operators with the proper tools needed and promote safety to help them avoid injury.

The OPNBar tool, for instance, can help avoid some injuries by providing an ergonomic means of opening shipping containers, checking for low-pressure tires, and aiding operators in releasing the tractor from the trailer. Please be sure to read OPNBar Extended Instructions & Precautions Safer Grip by OPNBar™️ are ideal work gloves for all-day use for light manufacturing, warehouse operators, and for use in maintenance areas.  Safer Grip gloves by OPNBar are ideal multi-purpose work gloves for various applications like trucking and delivery, warehouses, maintenance areas, light manufacturing, and carpentry. They are also great for gardening, and various outdoor activities that require grip in wet conditions, like boating, fishing, hiking, and biking, and can help protect hands while providing extra grip when handling tools and materials.

Buckle your seatbelt

As with driving any vehicle, your chances of being killed are almost 25 times higher if you are thrown from your vehicle during a crash. Safety belts can keep you from being tossed out a window, from being dragged on the road or from being crushed by your own vehicle or another.

Don’t speed

Truck drivers have their own speed limit for a reason.  Trucks have much less control when going fast than cars.  Curve and entrance/exit ramp speed limits are intended for small vehicles, not large trucks. Studies show large trucks often lose control or roll over when entering a curve at a posted speed limit due to their high center of gravity.

Pay attention to driving conditions

Unless you’re on the show, “Ice Road Truckers” if really bad weather is in the forecast, consider taking a detour or pulling over to ride out the storm.  Bad weather conditions contribute to 25 percent of speeding-related large-truck fatalities. Drivers should reduce their speed by one-third on wet roads and by half or more on snow-packed streets.

Check and recheck blind spots frequently

Truck drivers have many blind spots and no rear view mirror.  Never rely on other drivers to stay out of your blind spots; they may not be aware of the size of your vehicle’s “no zone.” Check your mirrors every 5-8 seconds as well as before you change lanes, turn or merge. This will help you keep track of changing traffic patterns around your truck.

Watch the road

Pay attention to the road.  Don’t drive distracted or be on your phone.  To safely slow down, a commercial motor vehicle driver should look at least 15 seconds ahead (a quarter-mile on the interstate and one-and-a-half blocks in the city). Paying close attention to the road ahead helps avoid abrupt braking situations and potential accidents.

Don’t drive drowsy

If you are drowsy, pull over.  Research shows that being awake for 18 hours is comparable to having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent, that is no good. Keep yourself safe and the motorists around you.  Always pay attention to signs of drowsiness like frequent yawning, heavy eyes, blurry vision, and spacing out.  Don’t lose your job, or even worse, kill someone.  Pull over and stay safe.

Keep on truckin and be safe out there truckers!

Ways for Trucking Companies
to Lower Workman’s Comp Costs

Although trucking companies are reporting fewer Workers’ Compensation claims, the average cost is typically higher than the average Workers’ Compensation claim in other industries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2007, trucking had an injury rate 30% higher than other U.S. industries. This, coupled with higher average medical and indemnity costs, drives employers costs higher and are often accepted as a cost of doing business.

The trucking industry can benefit from addressing ways to lower these costs, especially in the current economic environment. Simply relying on lower Workers’ Comp rates isn’t enough. Complacency will lead to higher Workers’ Compensation costs and any savings employers thought they were accruing will be lost when injuries go up and their Experience Modification Factor goes up right along with it.

The higher rates can be attributed in part to several factors. Because of the nature of their work, many drivers are out of shape, eat badly, smoke too much, don’t exercise and rarely get enough sleep. As a result, they find themselves susceptible to heart attacks and diabetes, as well as a myriad of strains, sprains and various other muscular-skeletal injuries. This not only makes a truck driver a danger on the road but also a danger to themselves, to the point that more and more of them are finding themselves mired in the Workers’ Compensation system, and driving up employer’s costs.

Still, there are steps the trucking companies can take to keep their Workers’ Compensation costs in line. Here are six ways that can point them in the right direction.

Equip operators with the proper tools needed and promote safety to help them avoid injury.

The OPNBar tool, for instance, can help avoid some injuries by providing an ergonomic means of opening shipping containers, checking for low-pressure tires, and aiding operators in releasing the tractor from the trailer. Please be sure to read OPNBar Extended Instructions & Precautions Safer Grip by OPNBar™️ are ideal work gloves for all-day use for light manufacturing, warehouse operators, and for use in maintenance areas.  Safer Grip gloves by OPNBar are ideal multi-purpose work gloves for various applications like trucking and delivery, warehouses, maintenance areas, light manufacturing, and carpentry. They are also great for gardening, and various outdoor activities that require grip in wet conditions, like boating, fishing, hiking, and biking, and can help protect hands while providing extra grip when handling tools and materials.

Make sure the insurance agent knows how Workers’ Compensation works. Although many brokers and insurance agents view themselves as “experts” in the trucking industry, very often they don’t understand the ways in which a trucking company can lower and control Workers’ Compensation costs. Workers’ Compensation insurance is extremely controllable, yet employers pay for the policy and little or nothing is done by the insurance agent over the policy year to help the organization lower those costs.An insurance professional trained in Workers’ Compensation can assist with injury management, return-to-work programs, open claim reserve reviews, audit reviews, loss control and safety practices and offer OSHA assistance. All require expertise and careful monitoring but are proven practices in reducing costs.

Watch for Misclassification.

Time and again, I come across instances where employees have been misclassified by the ratings boards. I see trucking companies that drive strictly short haul, but have all their drivers classified as long haul, which drives up costs considerably. Recently, a trucking company was overcharged $15,000 because the broker failed to make sure the proper Workers’ Compensation class codes had been assigned to the company’s employees. Employers need to make sure the agent reviews the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) codes to avoid overpaying for their Workers’ Compensation insurance.

Understand how the Experience Modification Factor works.

One of the most confusing components of an employer’s Workers’ Compensation policy is the Experience Modification Factor.The Experience Modification Factor is an adjustment that’s made to the Workers’ Compensation premiums based on the company’s prior three years payroll and incurred losses. In effect, it compares a company’s losses with other companies of a similar size in the same industry (in this case, the trucking industry). For instance, if the Experience Modification Factor is over 1, the company’s losses are more than expected and they will pay more; if it is under 1; they have fewer losses and will pay less.Most employers understand that if they have a lot of injuries, their Experience Mod will go up. And if they reduce or eliminate injuries, their costs will go down. At a basic level, this is correct. But there’s still more that can be done to control the Experience Modification Factor.

It is crucial that management and supervisors understand that insurance companies don’t pay for workplace injuries, their company does, and the Experience Modification Factor influences what their company pays. It is amazing how many trucking companies have no idea what workplace injuries are associated with which employees, the number of modification points attributed to each injury, the annual increase in premiums due to specific injuries, or even what the cumulative increased premium cost is over a three-year period, which is how long a claim impacts the Experience Modification Factor.

It should be every employer’s goal to strive for the lowest possible Experience Modification Factor. The agent’s responsibility is to show the company how much lower their Experience Mod could be and how to attain it.

Open claims impact your company.

Every open claim counts against the Experience Mod, as if they were actually paid out. It’s important that once claims are closed that they be reported immediately to the governing agent. If this isn’t being done, chances are very good the Experience Mod is higher than it should be.

The trucking industry needs to get itself as healthy as possible.

Study after study shows that obesity leads to a higher frequency of Workers’ Compensation claims in every industry, with the trucking industry among the leaders.

According to the 2006 Large Truck Crash Causation Study, 88% of the critical reasons for accidents are attributed to drivers as opposed to vehicle failure, weather, and other conditions. And of that number, 15% fell into the category of “non-performance” issues, which are drivers falling asleep, having a heart attack, or being disabled by some other physical impairment. According to a recent Associated Press story by Emily Fredrix, the answer is quite simple; “Many truckers are obese, and only about one in 10 gets regular aerobic exercise. Sleep apnea, which is linked to obesity, is rampant, too.”

Ultimately, the burden falls on the employer to be more pro-active in taking part in the wellness of their drivers, to make sure they get proper medical treatment and to help keep their drivers in shape. If employers implement work-based wellness programs that address such issues as sleep apnea, high-cholesterol, high-blood pressure, and weight-loss programs, the result will be a drop in Workers’ Compensation claims.

Implement pre-employment testing.

According to the latest regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a driver must not operate a commercial motor vehicle unless he or she is medically certified as physically qualified to do so. So how do you know if they are fit, or aren’t coming on board with a pre-determined condition or injury?

Each state addresses the aggravation or exacerbation of a pre-existing condition differently. In most states, if the on-the-job injury (a driver injures his back climbing into a cab) aggravates a pre-existing condition, it is considered to be a part of the payable injury, based on a physician stating it’s within a “reasonable medical probability” that the pre-existing condition was aggravated by the driver getting into the truck.

But some states have adopted a different way of determining on-the-job injuries from pre-existing conditions by incorporating a provision called major contributing factor. This means that for an accident or aggravation of a pre-existing condition to be payable, the condition being treated by a doctor has to be at least 51% related to the on-the-job injury.

Another tricky area of pre-employment screening is determining if the job applicant has a history of filing Workers’ Compensation claims. Under the Federal Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA), employers cannot inquire about past Workers’ Compensation claims, nor can they refuse to employ someone who has filed past claims or whose disability or impairment has no bearing on whether or not they can perform the essential tasks of the job. This means that someone can’t be denied a job to drive a truck just because his or her left leg is two inches shorter than the right. The job interview can only determine if the person can perform essential job functions, with or without reasonable accommodation.

In the end, it’s important for the employer to take all steps necessary to make sure they hire the right person for the job. Once companies understand that they, and not the insurance companies, are paying the freight on employee injuries, then driving down injury-related costs will take on increased importance.But before that happens there has to first be a drastic shift in the “accidents happen– that’s why we have insurance” mentality that permeates most trucking companies. From the supervisors on down to the employees, it’s critical that everyone in the organization be aware that it’s the employer’s money being spent, not the insurance company’s.

Carl Zeutzius is a Certified Work Comp Advisor (CWCA) and Director of Sales and Marketing for UNICO Group, an independent insurance, risk management and financial services group based in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Source: Carl Zeutzius | UNICO Group – workerscompensation.com

Proud to be recommended by:

Did you know that trucking, cargo and insurance companies lose billions a year due to operator injury?

Did you know 50% of all trucking injuries are sprains/strains?  Check out our infographic on workplace injuries, costs and causes:

Trucking and Warehouse Injuries, Costs and Causes