Citation

Shibuya H, Hannerz H, Mikkelsen KL, Cleal B, Gubba L. Int. J. Occup. Med. Environ. Health 2008; 21(1): 59-66.

Affiliation

National Research Centre for the Working Environment Copenhagen, Denmark.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz and the Polish Association of Occupational Medicine, Publisher Walter de Gruyter)

DOI

10.2478/v10001-008-0005-0

PMID

18482902

Abstract

Objectives: To establish a detailed picture of injury pattern among professional goods-transport drivers in Denmark. Methods: For each calendar year over the period of 1995-2003, the age-standardized hospital contact ratios (SHRs) for injury were calculated for male drivers working for road goods-transport contractors in Denmark. The reference population was the male skilled/semiskilled subpopulation of the general workforce in Denmark. Results: No differences in the rate of injury-related hospital contact could be found between male goods-transport drivers and the reference population between 1995 and 1999. However, in the following period of 2000-2003, elevated rates of injury-related hospital contact were noted among goods-transport drivers, compared with the reference population. Furthermore, the injury-related SHR of goods-transport drivers showed a significant increase throughout the period of 1995-2003. Injuries to ankles/feet/toes were prominent among goods-transport drivers. Compared with the reference population, male goods-transport drivers had elevated rates of superficial injuries, dislocations/sprains/strains, fractures, and concussion. The superficial injuries were sustained most frequently in the ankles/feet/toes, open wounds in head/neck, dislocations/sprains/strains in ankles/feet/toes, and fractures in wrists/hands/fingers and ankles/feet/toes. Conclusion: There is a clear need for efforts to prevent work injuries among goods-transport drivers. Special attention should be paid to preventing fractures in wrists/hands/fingers and ankles/feet/toes, dislocations/sprains/strains in ankles/feet/toes, open wounds in head/neck, and concussion.

Language: en