Bus drivers play a crucial role in our daily lives, ensuring safe and timely transportation for millions of people. However, these jobs also put transit workers at risk of accidents and health issues. What should bus drivers know about the ways that their work could impact their health and the support that may be available?
How can work as a bus driver impact your health?
Bus drivers may experience a wide variety of different health issues as a result of their work. Some of these challenges include:
- Traffic accidents: Navigating busy streets and highways increases the risk of collisions. Bad weather, reckless driving by others and mechanical failures can cause accidents.
- Repetitive stress injuries: Bus drivers often experience strain from long hours of driving, repetitive motions and maintaining the same posture. Over time, these repeated actions can lead to musculoskeletal disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis.
- Assaults: Unfortunately, transit workers are vulnerable to assault. More than 650 assaults injured or killed bus drivers and other workers in 2023 alone.
- Health issues: Prolonged sitting, exposure to vehicle emissions and lack of physical activity can contribute to chronic health issues.
How can workers’ compensation help?
Workers’ compensation is a vital support for bus drivers who experience illnesses or injuries because of their job. Workers’ compensation benefits include:
- Medical coverage: These benefits pay for doctor visits, medicine and therapy. This helps drivers get the care they need without worrying about money.
- Wage replacement: If a driver cannot work because of an injury, workers’ compensation gives them part of their paycheck. This helps them and their families pay bills while they recover.
- Retraining: If a driver cannot go back to their old job, workers’ compensation helps them learn new skills for a different job.
- Disability benefits: For drivers who have long-term or permanent injuries, workers’ compensation provides money to help them keep going.
Bus drivers face many risks in their line of work, and it is important for drivers to remember the support system that workers’ compensation can offer. These benefits not only aid in their recovery and financial stability but also emphasizes the importance of workplace safety and health. By understanding the role of workers’ compensation, bus drivers can protect their rights when their work impacts their health.