Three extra days of testing to help and gather more data for research project
Safe Work Australia (SWA) has added three days to its Victorian driver health campaign, starting today.
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.
“We are undertaking additional health checks to reach more drivers and gather more data for the research project,” an SWA spokeswoman says after three days of checks last month.
“This will be used to develop preventative health programs or policies in the road freight transport industry.”
This month’s effort starts includes today at BP North Lavington, Hume Highway Truck Map 72A6, 3pm- 8pm; tomorrow,BP North Lavington, Hume Highway Truck Map 72A6, 7am-11am and 4pm-8pm; Thursday, BP Cooper Street, Epping, 7am-11am and 5pm-8pm.
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.
“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,” SWA says.
“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 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.