For truck drivers in Pennsylvania and around the country, serious shoulder injuries can lead to permanent disabilities.. Researchers have noted that by positioning themselves strategically while cranking the landing gears of a truck, drivers may have better protection from shoulder problems when raising or lowering large trailers of goods. The study involved observations of 12 drivers during the cranking process, including examinations of 16 muscles linked to the function of the shoulder. Truckers’ shoulder muscle activity and range of motion were studied as they cranked the gears while handling trailers.
According to researchers, it is safer for truck drivers to stand parallel to the trailer while cranking it up. This can help to reduce the load on the shoulder joint and muscles by using additional full-body strength to manage the resistance of the trailer. On the other hand, drivers can face the trailer and crank the handle at a perpendicular angle to its rotation. This task involves less heavy resistance and more shoulder rotation, leading to workplace injuries and repetitive stress damage linked to grinding and rubbing of the ligaments over time.
Shoulder injuries are only one of the problems that truck drivers may face on the job. From motor vehicle accidents to back injuries linked to loading and unloading heavy goods, truck drivers face risks on a daily basis. When drivers are not provided with proper training or safety gear, these injuries can be career-ending.
Drivers may be at particular risk of workplace injuries when their employers fail to comply with federal safety regulations on the job. Injured truckers may want to meet with a workers’ compensation lawyer to learn more about what benefits might be available to them.
