Driver Ergonomics

Whether it’s long-haul transport or local beverage delivery, truck driving is and will remain one of the hardest jobs on your body. Not only are the long hours of sitting literally a pain in the back, but so too are many of the other tasks that a truck driver will complete. Truck drivers should not overlook the heavy toll that securing loads (straps, ratchets and chains), hand-loading trucks, climbing into the prime mover or handling freight can have on their body.

Prescribe has extensive experience in the Transport and Logistic sector and have worked with a number of large and dynamic companies, we understand the impact fatigue, sedentary work environments and long hours have both physically and mentally on the driver and have a number of solutions that can help. Give us a call today to find out how we do it.

Driving a locomotive, even though on tracks exposes drivers to similar risks to that of other industries; prolonged sitting, poor ergonomic set up, poor posture and fatigue. Additionally locomotive drivers are exposed to manual handling tasks throughout the shift such as; access/ egress, walking on ballast and climbing ladders. Pulling points, coupling / uncoupling, breakdowns, derailments and provisioning to name a few.

Prescribe has demonstrated a significant decrease in injury rates with a sustainable program for one of Australia’s leading rail companies, to discuss what strategies may work for your drivers contact us today.

With todays highly connected and mobile workplaces we understand that more and more of us spend long hours behind the wheel. This may be commuting between offices, workers in sales or providing business to business services, this is inevitably leading to many hours and thousands of km’s on the road.

This shift in workplace design and business operations is seeing an increase in driver related musculoskeletal disorders. Our Safe 2 Drive program will correct driver ergonomics, help you manage fatigue, discomfort and potential injury for workers who spend long days on the road.

Prescribe understands that not everyone drives a car, truck or locomotive and that there are literally thousands of other machine operators and machine models in Australian workplaces. We may not have seen them all however we have seen a lot of them. We have a number of tools and ergonomic operator assessments that can be tailored to your machinery. So give us a call to discuss your unique machinery and our solutions to your problems.

How can driving be a manual task?

Driving exposes workers to the same risks as working on a computer but often introduces two additional hazardous manual task characteristics.  While it may not even appear that driving is a ‘manual task’ it is in fact the following characteristics that make driving a hazardous manual task – WHS Regulation 2011, Reg 60 (1)

• it involves repetitive and sustained force (holding steering and foot on accelerator);
• it involves repetitive movement (steering or changing gears and operating foot pedal);
• it involves a sustained and or awkward posture (sitting places more load on the back than standing);
• it involves exposure to a force that may be heavy or sudden (unloading or loading);
• it involves exposure to vibration (road quality, the type vehicle, crane or operating an excavator);

All these characteristics coupled with long duration spent driving increases stress the body and can lead to injury or disease.