Hazards and risks to road transport drivers

A report from the EU-OSHA Risk Observatory, covering the whole of the transport sector, highlights the following hazards, risks and OSH issues for the road transport sector:

• The main physical hazards and risks include: exposure to vibrations and prolonged sitting (design of seat, cabin and other equipment); manual handling; exposure to noise – when loading and unloading, when driving trucks (motors, tyres, ventilator, etc.); inhalation of vapours and fumes, handling dangerous substances (exhaust fumes, chemicals on-board, fuel, road dust exposure while loading, unloading and at rest stops, washing and preparing vehicle); climatic conditions (heat, cold, draughts, rain, etc); limited scope for adopting ergonomic work conditions and healthy lifestyles.
• Fatigue is the most commonly reported health problem in land transport according to Eurofound’s European working conditions survey and national surveys. The road transport sector is highly competitive. Workloads are increasing and drivers face escalating pressures, for example pressures from clients to deliver faster and more cheaply, with issues such as ‘just-in-time management’, increasing traffic, remote monitoring, and many drivers working irregular and long hours.
• Violence and harassment are on the increase in transport, but go largely unreported. Transport workers often have to act as involuntary intermediates for organisational changes that affect customer service. There is also a lack of reporting procedures, prevention measures and follow-up routines.
• The transport workforce is ageing at a greater rate than the general working population and shortages of labour supply may occur.
• Job content changes include: an increasing use of new technology – such as remote planning and monitoring tools, on-board computers for reporting and recording goods deliveries; the need for knowledge of EU road codes and languages. On the other hand the work is more monotonous with fewer opportunities for learning when compared to that of the average working population.

More information in the report
OSH in figures: Occupational safety and health in the transport sector — an overview (in English only)

Introduction to managing risks to road transport drivers

Occupational risks in road transport

Road transport is one of the most hazardous sectors in the EU

Accident statistics from Europe’s CARE database show that across Europe about 10,000 people a year are killed on the roads. These figures include on average 1,300 drivers of buses, coaches, heavy good vehicles and lorries (i.e. vehicles under 3.5 tons).

Drivers face not only the risk of road accidents

They may develop bad backs from long periods of sitting in uncomfortable cabs. They may be injured through falls from heights, while handling loads or while coupling/ uncoupling trailers. They face adverse environmental conditions and physical hazards such as noise, vibrations, high and low temperatures and dangerous substances.

Additionally, time pressure may result in work-related stress

bad eating habits, lack of sleep, inadequate breaks and insufficient rest between shifts. Long working hours, loneliness and separation from family and friends are also typical features of the road transport sector.

Occupational safety and health management approach

Employers cannot exercise the same control over hazards to employees when driving or riding at work, as in the workplace. But many road accidents could be prevented by simply examining what actually goes on in a business, then identifying the risks present and taking practical steps to make sure that measures are in place to eliminate or reduce the risks.

The European occupational safety and health approach includes assessing risks and implementing preventive measures, giving priority to removing risks at source. These principles should be applied to implementing a preventive plan for road safety and health that includes vehicles and their equipment, operations planning and personnel. Organisations should set up a register to enter any incidents. These can be analysed as part of the risk assessment to help determine the best action to take. Measures to manage risk should be part of overall business management, not something separate.

As drivers are often very experienced as well as being independent workers, it is very important to involve them in identifying hazards and determining the best ways to manage risks.

Occupational safety and health issues to cover in a management plan

More information:
- Risk assessment section

Legislation relevant to road transport safety

• Employer’ responsibilities
• OSH directives
• Road traffic regulations and directives

Employer’ responsibilities

Everyone who uses the public highway must comply with road traffic legislation. This covers aspects as diverse as requirements for vehicles to comply with rules on road worthiness through to the application of speed limits. But managing the risks to employees who drive at work requires more than just compliance with road traffic legislation.

European Directives on occupational safety and health require employers to take appropriate steps to ensure the health and safety of their employees. This includes the time when they are driving, or riding at work, whether this is in a company or hired vehicle, or in the employee’s own vehicle.

There will always be risks associated with driving. Although these cannot be completely controlled an employer has a responsibility to take all reasonable steps to manage these risks down to as low a level as reasonably possible in the same way as they would in the workplace.

Occupational safety and health directives

Workers, including those in the road transport sector, are protected by European directives on occupational safety and health, which are implemented in member state legislation. Directive 89/391/EU (framework directive) sets the basic principles for risk prevention. It requires employers to carry out risk assessments and also imposes a general duty on them to ensure the health and safety of their employees at work.

The framework directive is supplemented by individual directives. Ones relevant to road transport include:

• manual handling of loads
• risks arising from physical agents (vibration)
• risks arising from physical agents (noise)
• working time of persons performing mobile road transport activities
• protection of young people at work
• dangerous substances

Road traffic regulations and directives

The road transport sector is also covered by various directives and regulations on driving and road transport including:

• a regulation on driving times, breaks and rest periods for drivers engaged in the carriage of goods and passengers by road
• directives relating to the transport of dangerous goods by road
• a directive laying down the maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorised weights in international traffic for certain vehicles circulating within the Community
• a directive on driving licences.

More information about the European directives and regulations concerning road traffic

Taxi drivers – occupational risks

An EU-OSHA report on good practice guidance for taxi drivers highlights a number of risks to taxi drivers. The EU-OSHA risk observatory OSH in figures report also identifies some key issues for this group of workers.

Taxi drivers and chauffeurs include: licensed cab drivers; unregulated ‘minicabs’; limousine drivers; and company chauffeurs. Due to work demands, taxi drivers may exposure themselves to unnecessary driving risks. Risks to taxi drivers include:

Physical risks

• Vibrations: Drivers are exposed to vibrations produced by their vehicle. These vibrations are more or less harmful depending on the type of vehicle, the average speed, and how many hours are spent driving.
• Manual handling of loads by lifting, holding, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying: taxi drivers carry out manual handling of loads, e.g. when they lift or hold luggage, when they push a wheelchair or when they help support people with a disability.
• Risks linked with a long sitting position, including MSDs of the neck, shoulder and back, and cardiovascular diseases.
• Risks linked with being ‘on the road’.

Chemical and biological risks

Professional drivers, particularly those who work in the city, are exposed to exhaust fumes and other pollutants.

Psychosocial risks, including stress and violence

• Stress risks include: a repetitive and monotonous job requiring a high degree of concentration; little latitude for decision-making and weak social support (an isolated job with limited contact with colleagues); work organisation: unsocial working hours, long shifts, etc.; high risk of fatigue, for example, drivers may work 10- to 12-hour shifts and night work and irregular schedules may, for example, cause sleep problems.
• Violence: Taxi drivers are more exposed to violence and aggression than the average worker. They work alone and at night, they have cash in the car and they may drive through isolated and dangerous areas. There clients may have drunk excessive amounts of alcohol or have taken drugs.

Risks related to individual behaviour

• Smoking
• Consumption of stimulants, such as coffee, and alcohol
• Lack of physical exercise - taxi drivers and chauffeurs have a sedentary job;
• Low seatbelt usage rate among taxi drivers and their passengers.

More information in the reports:

- Taxi drivers’ safety and health: A European Review of good practice guidelines (in English only)

- OSH in figures: Occupational safety and health in the transport sector — an overview (in English only)

Bicycle and motorcycle delivery - occupational risks to riders

An EU-OSHA report on good practice guidance for bicycle and motorcycle delivery riders highlights a number of risks to the riders. The EU-OSHA risk observatory OSH in figures report also identifies some key issues for this group of workers.

Delivery workers include messengers, couriers and food delivery drivers who use bicycles or motorcycles and the use of bicycle and motorcycle riders can be an efficient way to make deliveries. But motorcyclists and bicycle riders are also two of the most vulnerable groups of road users. Riders in both sectors suffer from time pressure: delivery workers are usually paid per delivery and are required to fulfil assignments in a very short period of time. Food delivery drivers have to deliver food while it is still hot.

Deliveries by motorcycle

Fast food delivery riders work mostly at night, from 8 pm to 1 am. They may be confronted with aggressive or drunken clients. They work alone and after dark, which makes their job dangerous. Food delivery riders are also at risk of robberies, because they handle money.

Riding a motorcycle in all weathers and adverse road conditions, always in a hurry to fulfil the assignment on time, increases the risk of accidents. Food delivery is typically done by young workers or by workers who have had no job training. They work mostly part time and on a contract basis. They may lack training and experience in riding their vehicle.

Risk and hazards for motorcycle messengers are:

Bicycle couriers

Couriers work predominantly as independent contractors. They work as subcontractors for one or more courier companies. Couriers spend all day outside working and can be on the road for up to 9 hours. They are exposed to various risks and hazards and to adverse and even extreme weather conditions.

Because of the distance the couriers cover and the amount of time they spend on the road they are more likely to have accidents than other cyclists. Messengers are outdoors at the most dangerous time of day, when the air quality is worst. In addition the physical strain of cycling requires a higher and more intense rate of breathing.

Risk factors for bike couriers are related to the nature of their employment and the traffic environment

Their age (about 25 years on average), sex (mostly males), employment status (independent contractors, paid on a delivery or commission basis and working full time on the road), the purpose of their work (rapid delivery), their area of operation (business sector with heavy vehicular traffic and numerous pedestrians, etc.).

Risk and hazards for bicycle messengers include:

More information in the reports:

- Delivery and despatch riders safety and health: A European Review of good practice guidelines (in English only)

- OSH in figures: Occupational safety and health in the transport sector — an overview (in English only)

Some findings about occupational health in the road transport sector

Some conclusions from EU-OSHA risk observatory

An EU-OSHA risk observatory report, covering the whole of the transport sector, found that work in transport requires high levels of professional skill and competence, including: driving; loading / unloading; carrying out repairs and solving technical problems; using advanced technology; certain language skills; carrying out basic administration; being a company ‘ambassador’ on the road and when communicating with clients and customers. This emphasises the importance for the sector of investing in drivers and their working conditions.

More specifically, conclusions from the report highlighted the need:

• for more awareness-raising, especially regarding some hazards that are often overlooked, such as dangerous substances;
• to mainstream OSH into transport accident prevention, building on the experiences and knowledge from road safety measures; to raise awareness of OSH issues in policy areas that may impact on the health and safety of transport workers;
• to promote cooperation between stakeholders in transport and stakeholders in OSH;
• to build on effective examples.

More information in the report: OSH in figures – OSH in the transport sector – an overview.

Some findings on risk prevention from the good practice case studies

EU-OSHA has collected a number of case studies in managing risks to road transport drivers and campaigns to improve safety. Conclusions that can be drawn from the cases include the following:

Drivers are frequently self-employed, very experienced and used to independent ways of working. This suggests, among other things:

• Ensuring that approaches are practical but not patronising.
• Using places they frequent – stop areas etc.
• Ensuring that advice and solutions are based on drivers’ experiences, for example by:

- Involving drivers in risk assessment, developing solutions

- Using drivers as advocates, mentors etc. o Allowing sufficient time to develop solutions and introduce change

Customers, clients and stakeholders should be involved in solutions to manage risks:

• The supply chain - suppliers, where deliveries are made etc.
• Passengers, school children
• Road safety groups, transport ministries etc.

Large organisations are in a position to set OSH standards for their delivery contractors etc. This in turn can stimulate these SMEs to adopt the same standards with other clients.

When new technology is introduced into cabs, it can also be used for OSH purposes. E.g. to keep drivers informed and improve delivery schedules.

OSH solutions may lead to more time to carry out tasks. This needs to be recognised in work organisation and working time. Clients need to be aware of this too.

Training, e.g. defensive driving techniques, must be part of an organisational system to prevent risks and with clear management commitment.

More information:

• Factsheet 97 - Delivering the message Campaigning on OSH in the road transport sector
• Report - Delivering the message Programmes, initiatives and opportunities to reach drivers and SMEs in the road transport sector (in English only)
• Factsheet 98 - Managing risks to drivers in road transport: good practice cases
• Report - Managing risks to drivers in road transport (in English only)