Citation

Staats U, Lohaus D, Christmann A, Woitschek M. Work 2017; 58(3): 383-397.

Affiliation

Department of Business Psychology, Department of Social and Cultural Sciences and Social Work, University of Applied Sciences, Darmstadt, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, IOS Press)

DOI

10.3233/WOR-172626

PMID

29036873

Abstract

BACKGROUND: For several years, the transportation industry has been concerned about a severe shortage of professional truck drivers. Studies investigating the reasons found that poor working conditions and stresses and strains resulting from physiological and psychological job demands have had a negative impact on drivers' health and ability to work. Nevertheless, until now, most employers have refrained from offering measures to support the work ability and well-being of drivers, mainly due to financial pressures in the industry.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was aimed at designing adequate and affordable measures to support drivers' health.

METHOD: With reference to the Work Ability Index and the house of work ability (Ilmarinen & Tuomi, 2004), 56 truck drivers participated in guided interviews about their working conditions and health-related problems as well as their attitudes, experiences, and desires with respect to being offered supportive measures by their employers.

RESULTS: The measures derived are specific and realizable and expected to be widely accepted by professional drivers. They are designed to elicit a positive attitude in the drivers toward exercising and to help them overcome related psychological barriers.

CONCLUSION: The implementation of the recommended measures can be expected to support drivers' work ability and help reduce the frictional costs of their employers.

Language: en

Keywords

Staff turnover; corporate health promotion; occupational health; work ability index; working conditions