Over a quarter of UK van drivers injured while loading

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 these numbers, based on views from 1,000 UK van drivers, represent a 6% reduction year-on-year in the number of drivers injuring themselves loading their vehicles, the number forced to take time off as a result 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 reported having to take more than 13 days off due to an injury loading or unloading their van in the last 12 months.

With downtime costing companies an estimated average of £550 a day per van, at a time when UK businesses are already feeling the squeeze, this downtime underscores the significant impact that loading-related injuries can bring – both to the individual operator, and the wider business.

As such, it is more important than ever that van drivers are trained and equipped to take the necessary precautions when loading and offloading their vehicles, to minimise the risk of injury.

More information on safe manual handling can be found on the HSE (Heath & Safety Executive) website.

HSE safe manual handling advice:

     1. Planning the lift, making sure you know the route you’ll take and whether there are any obstacles.

     2. Breaking up the load into manageable chunks, or asking a colleague for support on large or
        awkwardly-shaped objects, using lifting aids where possible.

     3. Engaging your legs to lift an object, driving up from a squat or lunge position to protect the rest of your body.

     4. Avoiding twisting your body when you lift a heavy item. Instead, lift the item and use your legs to turn as needed.

Despite the increase in injury downtime, however, the survey of 1,000 van drivers 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.

Given that overloading a vehicle by as much as 30% of its gross vehicle weight could lead to a fine of up to £300, this improvement in awareness has the potential to not only improve van safety on the road, but also to avoid additional costs to UK businesses.

Coming at a time when the impact of unexpected costs are on the minds of many businesses, this improvement acts as a welcome boost on the journey to better road safety.