[Occupational risks and health disorders in transport drivers]

This paper presents a review of occupational risks and health disorders in professional drivers employed in public and private transport. Epidemiological studies suggest an excess risk for cardiovascular diseases and musculoskeletal disorders in several categories of professional drivers, such as bus drivers, taxi drivers, truck drivers and forklift truck drivers. Although cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders are of multifactorial origin, some characteristics of occupational exposure in transport drivers (stress, workshift, traffic pollutants, awkward postures, exposure to noise and whole body vibration) may exert at least a concausal role for the onset and the development of these disorders. The predominant role of some confounding factors (inappropriate diet, drinking and smoking habits) makes it more difficult to establish causal associations between professional driving and other adverse health effects (respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genito-urinary disorders, and neoplastic diseases).