In response to a letter from the American Trucking Assn., the U.S. Occupational Health & Safety Administration has issued an interpretation on how employer should record driver injuries and determine incident rates.

According to Occupational Safety & Health Director Stuart Flatow, ATA asked for clarification as to how employers should record and report total hours worked for truck drivers as well as recordability of certain injuries and illneses to over-the-road truck drivers. The issues are important because OSHA's new Site-Specific Targeting Plan which prioritizes inspections is based on injury and illness data.
In a letter to ATA the agency said that motor carriers must determine the actual total number of hours worked by a driver versus those hours spent in normal living activities such as eating and sleeping. OSHA also stated that injuries to drivers that occur in sleeper berths or while showering at rest stops would not be considered recordable injuries.
Because over-the-road truck drivers present a unique situation, OSHA will include a special worksheet with data collection forms to help employers figure driver incidence rates.