Maximize Safety On Your Next Upfit - by Knapheide

 

Safety is everywhere on jobsites.  Regulations are put in place by government agencies to minimize the risk of injuries, equipment has a laundry list of safety features, and laborers protect themselves with safety glasses, ear plugs, hard hats, steel toed boots, high visibility clothing, among many other things.  Work vehicles have safety features that Henry Ford couldn’t have imagined in his wildest dreams.  Seat belts, air bags, back up cameras, lane and blind spot sensors, bluetooth, traction control, autonomous braking, adaptive headlights, parking assist, tire pressure monitors, the list goes on and on, all designed to keep the driver and occupants of the vehicle safe.

So why in 2013 were there over three million injuries on the jobsite, of which over half required missed work?*  The current median age in the United States is 37 years old, by 2050 experts predict it will increase to 41 years of age.**  An aging workforce is a great concern as it relates to jobsite safety and injury prevention.  Baby boomer laborers that for decades put in hard work are now paying the price with their knees, hips, back, and many other musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).  Not all work injuries are related to the aging workforce, however for many businesses our aging workforce is a determining factor when purchasing equipment and vehicles.

‘Ergonomics’, a word not historically heard in the commercial vehicle industry, has been a hot topic for several years now.  Business owners understand an aging workforce is highly susceptible to those revenue-losing injuries that require time off.  In order to combat the jobsite injuries, many have turned their attention to the commercial vehicle they drive and the equipment they use, but many times end up either overlooking the body or downplaying its importance.  The back of the commercial vehicle (cargo area or body) is commonly called the “business end” in the industry for a reason, much of the work day is spent there.  Accessing tools and parts, utilizing vehicle mounted equipment, climbing in and out or on and off, goes on all day, every day.  Climbing in and out of a truck body alone can wreak havoc on knees and backs if spec’d improperly, especially if a worker has been performing these repetitive movements for decades.

Review the Knapheide accessories and options at  https://www.knapheide.com/news/blog/2016/07/maximize-safety-on-your-next-upfit?utm_source=eloqua&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nurture&utm_content=tof-4&elqTrackId=6e189d1618364636bb9ec8b76fae69d5&elq=7d3a6b49687f4380b09cacc98845767b&elqaid=1069&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=518