Ergonomics for Delivery Drivers

Delivery drivers are a very important part of everyone’s lives.  When was the last time you had a package delivered, your yard serviced, or purchased something from a store?  Goods are moved all over the world every day.  Along with these jobs come a lot of manual material handling (MMH) and other workplace risks.  Here are some suggestions for improving ergonomics for delivery and distribution workers.

• Store products in the “comfort zone” – between 24″ and 62″ above the standing surface
• Keep products close – within 16″ from the employee
• Install a hand-hold for getting in and out of a cab
• Provide maintenance on bay doors to reduce pulling forces
• When possible, use a dolly to transport material instead of carrying material
• Provide a curb ramp if loads must be pulled up and down curbs

Also, consider the hazards present when driving:

• Provide a vibration-dampening seat
• Eliminate distractions, such as talking and texting on the phone
• Vary position every 20 – 30 minutes to promote blood flow

These are all potential solutions that come at a relatively low cost and are easy to implement.  To learn more about this topic, check out our upcoming web course on Ergonomics for Manual Material Handling.