What we did• Conductedsurveysandfocusgroupswiththetransportindustryinurbanandregionalareaswith135employersand116

truckdriversparticipating.

• Discussedtransportoperators’experiencesandexamplesrelatedtohazardousmanualtasks,whichcancausemusculoskeletaldisordersandwork-relatedstressinthesupplychain.

What we found Customer sites

Issue Examples

Loading and unloading site design

• Inadequatespaceforloading/unloadingandmaneuveringactivities.• Nodocks.• Clientsunderestimatethespacerequiredforcertainvehicles.

Unsafe interactions with members of the public

• Atshoppingcentres.• Trucksrequiredtoreverseontoroadsorinteractwiththepublic.• Localstripshopping-trucksusecouncilloadingzones,othercarparksordoubleparktodeliver

goods.

Site traffic management

• Lackofexclusionzonesfortruckdriversduringforkliftloading/unloadingactivities.• Multiplevehicleinteractionsaroundloading/unloadingzones.

Delays while waiting to be loaded/unloaded

• Poorcommunicationandcooperationbetweenparties.• Impactsonthedriver’sdeliveryschedule,e.g.otherscheduleddeliveries/pick-ups,driving

hours,restbreaks.

Lack of mechanical aids

• Lackofclarityaboutwhoprovidesmechanicalaids.• Poormaintenanceofmechanicalaidssuppliedbycustomers.• Transportoperatorsconcernedthatmechanicalaidstakeup‘paidspace’ontrucks.

Physical and mental impacts on safety in the transport supply chain

BackgroundTheAustralian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022outlinestwotargets:• 30percentreductioninmusculoskeletaldisordersby2022• supplychainsandroadtransportarefocusareas.

OfficeofIndustrialRelationsWorkplace Health and Safety Queensland

6in10seriousinjuryclaimsinroadfreightwereformusculoskeletaldisorders

Typically$53,000inclaimpayments,and34weeksoffworkformentalhealthdisorderclaims

Averageworkers’compensationcostpermusculoskeletaldisordersclaimis$18,992

$75,970forotherbusinesscostssuchastrainingreplacementworkers

Average total costs of $94,962 for a single musculoskeletal disorder claim

Working on and around trucks Issue Examples

Access and egress • Poorlydesignedstepsandinadequatehandholds.

Load restraint • Driversmaydisagreewiththeircustomers’loadingand/orrestraintmethods,butareresponsiblefortheloadduringtransit.

• Loadrestraintdevicesincludingcurtainsandgatescauseawkwardposturesandforcefulexertions.

Time pressure Issue Examples

Time slots • Pressurefromschedulers/customerstomakeexpectedtimeslots/deliverytimes.• Sourcesofdelaye.g.impracticalallocateddeliverytime,trafficconditions,legislatedbreaks.• Contractualpenaltiesiftimeslotsaremissed.• Typesofworkplacesidentified–port,railterminals,distributioncentresandsupplierstominesites.

Customer expectations

• Transportoperatorsbelievedthatcustomershaveunrealisticexpectationsaboutdeliverytimes.

Drivers have little input into their schedules

• Legislativedrivinghourssystemseentoberigidandremovedcontrolfromdrivers.

Enforcement agency impacts on drivers

• Transportoperatorsseethatstopsforenforcementactionimpactedtheirabilitytocomplywiththeirrestbreaksanddeliveryschedules.

Impact of schedulers, sales people, managers on drivers

• Seentohaveasubstantialimpactondriver’sschedules.• Perceivedthatthesegroupsdon’tallowfortherealitiesofthedrivingtaskwhendeveloping

schedules.• Holdconsiderablecontroloverdriverscheduleswhichisn’talwaysdistributedfairly.

On road issues Issue Examples

Other road users • Unsafeactionsofotherdriverswheninteractingwithtrucks.• Perceivednegativecommunityattitudesabouttruckdrivers.

Weather • OfparticularconcerninNorthQueensland.• Impactsonworkschedulesandtimepressure.

Road conditions • Poorconditionofroadsandlackofinfrastructure(usuallyalargerissueinregional/remoteareas).

Recommendations • Improvethequalityofconsultationbetweensupplychainpartiesasrequiredbyworkhealthandsafetylaws.Ifmultiple

partieshavealegalobligationrelatingtothesamemattertheymustconsult,cooperateandcoordinateactivities.Forexample,transportoperatorsandcustomersshouldworktogethertoidentifyrisksandcontrols,toimprovesystemsofworkssuchastimeslots.

• Riskmanagementapproachesneedtobebasedonriskfactorsforhazardousmanualtasks,work-relatedstressandchronicdisease.RefertotoolssuchasParticipativeErgonomicsforManualTasks(PErforM),ManualTasksRiskAssessment(ManTRA),WorkHealthPlanningGuideandPeopleatWork,Work-RelatedStresstipsheetsandPsychologicalHealthforSmallbusiness.

• Relevantsupplychainpartiesshouldbeinvolvedindevelopingandimplementingcontrolsastheyoftenhaveresponsibilityforfactorsthatcontributetoriskfortransportoperators.Forexample,wheretheriskinvolvesunsafeinteractionsaroundaloadingdock,thecustomersiteshouldbeinvolvedastheyhaveresponsibilityfortheinfrastructure.

• Specificcontractprovisionsshouldaddressissuesthatimpactonhazardousmanualtasksandwork-relatedstressissuessuchasscheduling,incentivesandpenalties.

For further information visit worksafe.qld.gov.au or call 1300 362 128.

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