Statistics show that in the transport, shipping and logistics sector, forklift truck drivers had a suicide rate that was 85% above average in 2017, van drivers had a suicide rate of 25% above the national average and drivers of large good vehicles has a 25% higher suicide rate than the national average, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Road Safety Week is not just about raising awareness in preventing road collisions and accidents, but also ensuring that the health and safety of workers whose jobs requires them to spend a substantial time on the road, for instance truck drivers, is protected.
Out of all the private sector industries that were surveyed, transport, shipping and logistics had highest level of absenteeism according to a report published by Deloitte in 2017.
Transport Sector Manager for Mates in Mind, Martin Lockham said: “This Road Safety Week, we are calling on leaders from across the transport and logistics industry to use the week as an opportunity to join us and take action to improve the health of their workforces, and through this, the health and sustainability of their whole organisation.”
“Mates in Mind understand that supporting good mental health across a workplace is an essential part of ensuring the positive overall health and safety of a workforce. With the high-risk nature of mental ill-health beginning to be widely addressed across transport and logistics, we are supporting organisations to step up and change this”.
“The need for industry leaders to take direct action within the transport and logistics sector is becoming increasingly obvious. Recent reports reflect the harsh reality that many across the industry are struggling with their day-to-day activities, and for many organisations, the task of tacking the challenge of mental ill-health can seem daunting. But we are here to help” he continued.
