Assessment of physical work demand of short distance industrial gas delivery truck drivers

Abstract

Aim: This study assessed the work-related physical demands of short-distance truck drivers employed by a large gas delivery company in Canada.

Methods: A total of 19 truck drivers participated in the data collection, which included a combination of self-reports, field observations and direct measurements to report on the work shift task composition, postures, physical workload, and force exertions.

Results: Driving (mean of 43% of daily work shift) and delivering gas cylinders to customers (28%) were the main tasks of the truck drivers. Delivering gas cylinders measured as moderate level work and daily work duration was not excessive with respect to mean cardiac strain for most drivers. However, manual handling and force exertion activities were frequent and deemed unsafe most of the time with respect to existing guidelines on manual materials handling.

Conclusion: This study documents physical risk factors that are consistent with musculoskeletal pain prevalence reported for short-distance truck drivers.

Keywords: Industrial gas cylinders; MSD; Manual materials handling; Physical workload; Short-distance truck drivers.