NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Risks for workplace violence in long-haul truckers: preliminary data.

Anderson DG; Reed DB; Browning S; Westneat S; Allen K; Kenworthy E

2005 National Injury Prevention and Control Conference, May 9-11, 2005, Denver, Colorado. Atlanta, GA: Centers and Disease Control and Prevention, 2005 May; :143

20038936

Background and Significance: An average of 20 workers are murdered and an estimated 18,000 workers experience a nonfatal assault U.S. (NIOSH, 2001). The transient nature of trucking increases the risk for experiencing workplace violence (Renner, 1998). Purpose: To investigate the incidence and distribution of workplace violence among long-haul truck drivers. Specific aims: 1. Identify the types of violence experienced by long-haul truck drivers 2. Identify risk factors that contribute to the violence 3. Differentiate the risks of work-related stress among distinct sociodemographic groups of truckers 4. Determine the prevalence of domestic violence experienced by long-haul truck drivers 5. Identify work environment factors that place truck drivers at risk Method: A quantitative survey will be conducted with a nonprobability sample (N=1400) recruited at truck shows and truck stops across the United States. Data will be collected on violence-related variables (e.g., harassment, weapons, assault, rape, worksite security, psychological strain, and substance abuse). Qualitative data on violence at the worksite will be collected via phone interviews with a purposive sample of 30 female and 30 male participants. Data Analysis: Descriptive statistics will be compiled as appropriate for the level of measurements of the variables. Dependent on the specific aim, bivariate relationships, logistic regression, discriminant analysis, Cronbach's alpha, and ANCOVA will be used. Constant-comparative methods and content analysis matrices will be used to describe, analyze, and interpret the qualitative data. Preliminary Results: The truckers (N=843) have been long-haul truckers an average of 14 years; 65.5% are married; 39.4% have children under the age of 18 (of those 36.6% have children who travel with them); 88.2% have a high school education and 45.4% have attended college; 89.9% Caucasian; 6.5% African American; 2.3% Native American; 3% Hispanic origin. Twelve percent of the truckers (n=100) do not have a residence outside of their truck. Truckers fear for their personal safety at work (74.2%), and have had their safety threatened while driving (87.7%). Conclusion: Preliminary results indicate that long-haul truckers are at risk for workplace violence. Safety measures at truck stops, rest areas, and delivery sites are needed to decrease workplace violence experienced by this occupational group. Learning Objectives: Describe incidence and distribution of workplace violence among female and male long-haul truck drivers; Determine work environment factors that place workers at risk for violence; Discuss issues related to transiency and trucking.

Demographic-characteristics; Injuries; Injury-prevention; Quantitative-analysis; Questionnaires; Risk-analysis; Risk-factors; Safety-measures; Safety-monitoring; Truck-drivers; Trucking; Work-areas; Work-environment; Work-operations; Workplace-studies

20050509

Abstract

Grant

2005

Grant-Number-R03-OH-007931

2005 National Injury Prevention and Control Conference, May 9-11, 2005, Denver, Colorado

KY; CO

University of Kentucky