What are your thoughts on a driver who has a walking stick or a crutch?
I broke my leg 10 months ago, and have recently had surgery a titanium bar and screw and a bone graft in my right tibia. The consultant has told me I am full weight bearing and fit for work and to do things when I am ready. I am down to a walking stick or a crutch just to help with the balance and weight bearing a little, I can drive perfectly get up and down the cat walk on the trailer all is well, how ever some people seem to have a problem with this, and say I shouldn’t be allowed? maybe cause I am a planner Monday to Friday And am trying to get back to driving at weekend? I’m not sure as I feel fit enough and am well able. I work for a reasonably big company and they don’t deem me in fit and are happy for me to crack on. What are your thoughts? What would you think if you saw a driver with a walking stick, do you think I’ll get issues at delivery?
Input is all welcome good or bad!
To be honest I’m surprised at a consultant passing you fit for work if he knows what you are planning to do for a living.
Bone grafts need time to heal properly. You don’t want to interrupt or harm that healing process with a bang or a fall.
If you’re really set on going back to work I’d stick to the planning for some time yet mate.
Non issue, I wouldn’t even think twice about it, in fact I probably wouldn’t even register with me that you were using a stick. I used to work with a driver who only had one leg and I used to regularly see on the ferry to and from Dublin a driver who was in a wheelchair. A stick is nothing against those situations.
Obviously your employer has carried out two seperate risk assessments when you returned to work.
I personally dont have an issue as I know where your coming from as I have got three spinal disks in my lower back causing me continuous pain, but I plan to get back to general haulage as soon as I can, just need to loose the chub…
The only real concern is how are you getting on with the loading & unloading, its can be pretty physical
That’s nice to hear was just nervous that’s all.
The graft is settled and pinned in so no worries there. I’m not going to drive full time again for a long while cause I’m enjoying the challenge but can not wait to get back behind the wheel tomorrow!
Of course your firm want you back too work so they don’t have too pay you sick pay,I did my ankle in recently and said I couldn’t do shop deliveries as I was constanly in / out the cab,using feet to accelerate.
They just put me on long distance work where the truck was on c/c 99.9% of the time !and the rest of the time was spent in the bunk while the box was getting tipped .
