Based on workers compensation data, it is suggested that beverage delivery drivers have an increased chance of suffering a job-related injury of the neck, shoulder, lower back, or knee. Delivery drivers have many contributing factors that make them susceptible to musculoskeletal injuries. These contributing factors include the high frequency of twisting, bending forward with extended reaches into truck bays to grab cases of drinks, stacking cases inside stores, and the repetitive tasks when stocking coolers. There are some indications that most of these injuries have been from lifting and twisting the back at the same time. Employees may be pressured to deliver their products at a fast rate and are not pacing themselves to reduce the chance of a back injury.
Accounts can demand stacking cases higher than the recommended practice.
The speed of stocking store coolers with bottles of beer and soft drinks can also increase the likelihood of wrist strains or carpal tunnel syndrome. Outreach efforts in the Soft Drink Industry included numerous communications with the California-Nevada Soft Drink Association. There were sixteen returned questionnaires out of the total surveys mailed out. Listed below are some of the responses to our industry survey. The most frequent work-related injuries occurring in the workplace are back sprains and strains.