Driving a truck in North Carolina may seem like a job where the only real injury risk is in a vehicular accident, but that is not true. You face different injury risks ranging from those you may get behind the wheel to those that may occur when doing the other aspects of your job. Trucking can be a dangerous profession.
You may think repetitive stress injuries, such as carpal tunnel, happen in manufacturing and office work only. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration states that these injuries are quite common for truck drivers. Think about the amount of time you spend behind the wheel, doing the same thing for hours. You hold the steering wheel the same way and move the gearshift the same way. Vibration can contribute to repetitive stress injuries. Doing that for hours and hours every week for months and years eventually takes a toll. Even sitting in a vehicle seat for long periods of time can cause back problems.
Sprains and strains are another big issue for this field. Often these occur due to falls. You are climbing up into a big rig multiple times a day, so there is always a risk for falling. Lifting cargo also poses a threat to your muscles and also can lead to back injuries, which are another common problem for truckers. Overexertion, fractures and struck-by accidents are additional issues truck drivers face on the job. Improperly secured loads can fall on drivers and other persons, causing very serious injuries.
While many of the common injuries are treatable or will heal on their own, the most dangerous on-the-job issue will always be road accidents. All it takes is one accident to claim a life. It is important that drivers stay alert on and off the road to avoid hazards, accidents and injuries. But sometimes even the greatest care cannot protect against the carelessness of others or from hazards of a job that carries a number of risks. This information is for education and is not legal advice.
