28% of UK van drivers suffered a loading-related injury last year, according to research by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
The survey also found that 88% of these had to take time off work as a result.
Although the headline number of drivers injured had fallen by 6% year-on-year, VW said that the number forced to take time off had increased, and so had the duration of absence, which it said had risen by 17%.
VW said it was therefore more important than ever that van drivers were trained and equipped to take the necessary precautions when loading and offloading their vehicles.
However, it did note an improvement in the number of van drivers found to be adhering to their vehicles’ legal weight restrictions, up from 52% to 70%.
