November 17, 2003—Employees who operate company-owned vehicles over short trips or who drive personal vehicles on the job are at risk along with full-time professional drivers for work-related fatalities and injuries, which are the leading cause of job-related fatalities in the US, according to new research from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Employee deaths in roadway crashes increased by 18.7 percent from 1992 to 2000, totaling 11,952 over the nine-year period, according to the report, which provides in-depth data, analysis, and recommendations for preventing job-related roadway deaths.
The report shows that employers, employees, and others can take practical measures to prevent work-related roadway deaths, while research continues in areas that are critical for further progress. It recommends preventive measures that can save lives, including: avoiding the use of cell phones while driving; avoiding other potentially distracting activities such as eating, drinking, or adjusting non-critical vehicle controls while driving; enforcing mandatory on-the-job use of
“NIOSH Hazard Review: Work-Related Roadway Crashes-Challenges and Opportunities for Prevention,” DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2003-119, is available online from NIOSH or by calling 800/35-NIOSH.
