UK van driver downtime from injuries is rising, putting a further squeeze on UK businesses.
More than one quarter (28%) of the UK’s van drivers sustained a loading-related injury last year, with 88% requiring time off work as a result, according to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles research.
While that’s a 6% reduction year-on-year in the number of drivers injuring themselves loading their vehicles, the number forced to take time off because of these injuries has increased over the last 12 months, and so too has the duration of absence.
In 2023, van drivers who sustained a loading-related injury had to take an average of 5.79 days off work – a 17% increase compared to the previous year. On top of this, one in 10 said they’d had to take more than 13 days off due to an injury loading or unloading their van in the last 12 months.
Estimates put the cost of downtime at an average of £550 a day per van – and the latest research, carried out among 1,000 drivers, underscores the significant impact that loading-related injuries can bring; both to the individual operator and the wider business.
This means it’s more important than ever that van drivers are trained and equipped to take the necessary precautions when loading and offloading their vehicles, minimising the risk of injury. Key tips and advice on safe manual handling are available via the HSE (Heath & Safety Executive) website.
Despite the increase in injury downtime, however, the survey by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles did also reveal a significant improvement in the number of UK van drivers adhering to their vehicles’ legal weight restrictions when loading their vans – increasing from 52% last year to 70%, with 94% of respondents now claiming to know the legal weight restrictions for their vans.
Such an improvement in awareness could well improve van safety on the road and also avoid additional costs to UK businesses. Drivers overloading vans face fines up to £300 and the possibility of licence penalty points.
