Delivery drivers and low-back pain: A study of the exposures to posture demands, manual materials handling and whole-body vibration

The exposures of drivers to posture demands, manual materials handling (MMH) and vibration as risk factors for LBP were investigated. A validated questionnaire was used to obtain information about driving experience, driving (sitting) posture, MMH, and health history among 64 drivers in short-haul delivery jobs. Twelve persons were observed and videotaped during their work and vibration measurements were obtained for three types of delivery vehicles (Van, articulated truck and tipper truck). The results indicated that systematic observation of the driving activity and MMH is necessary alongside questionnaire assessments if the exposures are to be accurately characterised and that delivery vehicles generate acceptable levels of average r.m.s. acceleration. Transient (lasting less than a week) low-back pain was found to be prevalent among the drivers.Relevance to industryPersons who drive occupationally or for prolonged periods of time suffer low-back pain and other musculoskeletal problems. Accurate description of the exposures to risk factors is essential if the causal and aggravating factors are to be identified quantitatively.