Free Health Checks for Truck Drivers

Truck driver health checks are being offered as a joint initiative of Safe Work Australia, the National Transport Commission, preventionXpress and the Institute for Breathing and Sleeping.

From 26 January – 10 February 2014 free health checks will be conducted for heavy vehicle drivers at various locations in New South Wales and Victoria. It is expected that around one thousand heavy vehicle drivers will be tested at truck stops for health risks.

The testing started in December 2013, and drivers in New South Wales and Victoria are being tested from 26 January until 10 February.

Drivers are offered a free, confidential, 10-minute health check conducted by a preventionXpress health professional. It involves testing height, weight, blood pressure and a blood prick test for diabetes, and a lifestyle questionnaire.

“Through the health checks truck drivers will learn more about their risk of Australia’s five major chronic preventable diseases like heart disease and type 2 diabetes,” says Safe Work Australia.

“Personal health risk factors like alcohol, tobacco, balanced diet, physical activity, effective sleep pattern, fatigue and psychological health and wellbeing will also be identified.” Any at risk drivers will be referred to their GP.

The de-identified health information collected at the truck stops will be reported to the National Transport Commission and Safe Work Australia and used to create preventative health programs for the road freight transport industry.

The free, confidential, 10 minute health check will be conducted on-site at the relevant truck stop by a health professional and involves two quick steps:

testing of height, weight, blood pressure and a blood prick test for diabetes, and a lifestyle questionnaire.  It is aimed at giving drivers a convenient, easy way of checking their health early notification of potential health issues, and an immediate, easy to understand report with their results.

Any driver identified as having a high risk health issue will be referred to their GP and provided with contact details of relevant service providers for further information.

Through the health checks truck drivers will learn more about their risk of Australia’s five major chronic preventable diseases like heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Personal health risk factors like alcohol, tobacco, balanced diet, physical activity, effective sleep pattern, fatigue and psychological health and wellbeing will also be identified.

Road transport is a priority industry of the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022 and this information will be used in the development of preventative health programs or policies in the road freight transport industry.