Occupational Road Safety: U.S. Perspective

Stephanie Pratt

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Occupational Crash Data for the U.S.

Data we have:

Information on fatalities: worker, incident, vehicles

Specialized data on crashes of large trucks

Data we do not have:

Information on non-fatal crashes at work

How many miles are driven during work hours

How many fatalities or injuries occur during commuting

Fatal Crashes at Work: U.S. Statistics

Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are the leading cause of occupational fatalities

Fatalities each year: 1,400 in single- or multiple-vehicle crashes on public

roadways

350 in single- or multiple-vehicle crashes off public roadways

350 pedestrians struck and killed

MVCs are 35-40% of all workplace fatalities

Almost 40% are truck drivers

Work-related motor vehicle deaths for selected private industry divisions,* U.S., 2003-2005

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

Government

Retail

Wholesale

Agriculture

Construction

Services

Transportation

Ind

ust

ry

Deaths

*Private industry (government shown separately)Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (see stats.bls.gov)

Pedestrian

Occupant

Crash Characteristics Influence Safety Regulations and Programs

Emphasis on safe driving, with less emphasis on pedestrian safety

Emphasis on crashes of large trucks: Safety of truck drivers, and

safety of other road users

Driving for Work in the U.S.

Comprehensive safety regulations: Large trucks and buses

No driving safety regulations: Smaller trucks and passenger vehicles Company-owned vehicles

Personal vehicles

“Best practices” standard (ANSI Z-15, Safe Practices for Motor Vehicle Operations)

CDC/NIOSH International Road Safety Activities

Federal agencies “Global Road Safety Roundtable”

UN Road Safety Collaboration Government, NGOs, private sector Fleet Safety Project Group

CDC collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research

In progress: online library of technical and policy documents related to occupational road safety www.roadsafetyatwork.org

NIOSH Road Safety Web pages

Global Road Safety:

www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/twu/global/

Motor Vehicle Safety:

www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/motorvehicle/

Policy Recommendations

Driving for work should be a part of broader road safety initiatives.

Jurisdictional issues need to be resolved.

Policy makers should classify the roadway and the vehicle as part of the workplace.

Prevention of road crashes at work deserves coordinated action by OSH agencies and transport agencies.

Research Recommendations

‘Evidence-based’ studies that demonstrate the value of road safety programs at work are needed.

Organizations that operate fleets should consider participating in collaborative research projects.

Questions?

Stephanie Pratt, Research Health Scientist

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

+1 304-285-5992

spratt@cdc.gov

The findings and conclusions in this presentation are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.