The shortage in HGV drivers has been well documented over the last few months, with commentators speculating on the causes of the shortage; including Covid, Brexit and it no longer being a lifestyle many find attractive. According to the Road Haulage Association (RHA) the UK currently needs 100,000 more HGV drivers. The shortage has highlighted the importance of this profession and how reliant we all are on the work HGV drivers do. Of course, it is not just HGV drivers that spend all day in their vehicle, there are a plethora of different jobs that demand workers to be constantly on the road, for example delivery drivers and taxi drivers.
Keeping healthy whilst on the road
Long hours sat behind the wheel is not for everyone, and many would feel this type of job could have a detrimental impact on their health. If driving all day is your job, you are thinking of changing careers to take advantage of the HGV jobs currently available, or you are a haulage company owner/HR director and want to ensure your current drivers remain healthy and happy, whilst at work, we may be able to help. We can reduce the risk of sickness absence and help you manage the health and safety risks that driving daily entails. This includes making sure individual drivers are fit to work and that the vehicles they are driving are fit for purpose, see https://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/drivingforwork.htm for more details.
Vehicle condition
Vehicles must be properly maintained, fit for purpose and safe to drive. For example, if the tyre pressure is incorrect this can cause excessive vibrations through the vehicle putting additional stress on the body. If the brake pads are worn or there is not enough brake fluid this can make the brake pedal difficult to depress, putting additional pressure through the leg, hip and back. The vehicle seat should be in good condition, the driver should have good visibility and should be able to adopt a comfortable and safe driving position.
Offsetting a sedentary profession
Many jobs can be sedentary, and we often discuss the issues surrounding this. If you have a desk job, there are lots of solutions available to build more movement into your day; for example, a chair with a free float mechanism so you can move whilst seated, a sit-stand desk so you can alter your posture at regular intervals and introducing hourly movement breaks into your day. Unfortunately, if instead of sitting behind a desk you are sat in a heavy goods vehicle the solutions above will not apply to you. Taking breaks is easier if you are stopping regularly to complete deliveries or pick up new passengers but it is not so easy for HGV drivers who do not have natural breaks in their schedule; but it is important to take breaks when you can and to use this time to get out of the cab, go for a walk and have a stretch. According to DfT statistics, around 300 people are killed each year as a result of drivers falling asleep at the wheel. This highlights the huge importance of taking breaks and being aware of your own body and when you feel fatigued, take a break.
Stretch
Some small stretches can also be carried out, whilst seated, circling the wrists, tilting the neck, rotating the shoulders; for example, these will all help increase blood flow around the body and stop the muscles from stiffening. When you cannot build much movement into your working day this can be offset by trying to include some physical activity into your week, whether this is weekend walks, swimming, running or a game of five a side with your mates. It is also important to stay hydrated whilst on the road and try to eat healthy foods.
Thinking about your posture
Factoring in physical activity to offset the sedentary nature of the job is not the only change that drivers can make. It is important whilst driving, drivers adopt a posture that will not adversely affect their health. At Access 2 Comfort we observe office workers at their workstations and make changes to ensure they are adopting good practice and vehicle assessment are available for those that are permanently on the road. Our assessments will be undertaken in the vehicle, observing the driving position adopted, checking the support to the body; is the back well supported, are you seated at the right height, with the knees lower than the hips, are your arms supported and not in a stressed position. Do you feel relaxed whilst driving, or are you carrying tension through your body? We can also offer product-based solutions to help protect against the negative effects of being seated in a vehicle all day.
If you think we could help advise you or your staff on the changes that can be made to ensure driver comfort and safety then checkout our website for more information.