Transportation Injury Stats
There is a demonstrable need to develop programs for the prevention of MSDs in the transportation sector.  

 

  • Musculoskeletal disorders are a significant workplace health and safety issue and are the number one reason for lost-time claims reported to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) [1] (Figure 1). 
  •  From 2003-2007, MSDs resulted in direct claim costs of over $640,000,000 and over 6,000,000 days lost [2].  
  • In Ontario in 2007, MSDs accounted for 43% of all lost time injuries (LTI) and 43% of total LTI costs [2]. 
  • The transportation sector has one of the highest lost-time claims of all the sectors [1].  
  • Transportation and equipment operators have the highest lost time claims compared to all other occupations [1]  (Figure 2).   
  • In the transportation sector, MSDs account for 45% of total LTIs and 35% of LTI costs [2].  
  • The transportation sector has the highest MSD frequency rate compared to all sectors [2] (Figure 3).    
  • The average cost of a lost time injury in general trucking is $42,693 [3]. 

  

It should be noted that trucking is the dominant mode of freight transportation in North America, and in Ontario trucking hauls 70% of all land freight. Ontario-to-USA trade is estimated at $330 billion annually. Commercial trucking in Ontario creates employment for 200,000 workers, which is 4.8% of the Ontario workforce. Due to the high incidence of the MSDs in the transportation sector, increased efforts focusing on reducing MSD risk factors are required.


Figure 1: Lost time claims for all sectors by nature of injury [1]
 


Figure 2: Lost time claims by occupation [1]



Figure 3: Musculoskeletal disorder frequency rate by Health and Safety Association [2]

References

[1] WSIB Statistical Supplement 2007, http://www.wsib.on.ca/wsib/wsibobj.nsf/LookupFiles/DownloadableFileStatisticalSupplement07/$File/2278A.pdf as reported in Duffy, A. Ontario Ministry of Labour Perspective, MSD Prevention Strategies in the Transportation Sector, February 2009, Mississauga, Ontario.
[2] WSIB Data Warehouse Enterprise 2008, as reported in Duffy, A. Ontario Ministry of Labour Perspective, MSD Prevention Strategies in the Transportation Sector, February 2009, Mississauga, Ontario.
[3] 2009 Ontario WSIB Premium Rates Manual, http://www.wsib.on.ca/wsib/wsibobj.nsf/LookupFiles/2009PremiumRatesManual2009PremiumRatesManual/$File/PR_2009.pdf