
FACTS
- Delivery workers are at higher risk of traffic accidents: Delivery drivers spend a lot of time on the road, which puts them at a higher risk of being involved in a traffic accident.
- Delivery workers are often exposed to dangerous working conditions: Delivery drivers may be exposed to other hazards such as extreme weather conditions, robbery or assault, and exposure to hazardous materials.
- Delivery workers face language barriers: Many delivery drivers face language barriers.
- Delivery workers are in high demand: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge in demand for food delivery services, as many people have been unable or unwilling to visit restaurants in person.
- Delivery workers may work long hours: Because many delivery drivers are paid per delivery, they may feel pressure to work long hours to make enough money. This can lead to fatigue and burnout.
- Delivery workers may have limited access to training or support: Many food delivery workers work for third-party platforms such as Uber Eats or Grubhub, which may not provide them with adequate training or support.
STATS
- In a survey conducted by the National Employment Law Project, 30% of food delivery workers reported that they had been involved in a traffic accident while working.
- The same survey found that 54% of food delivery workers reported that they did not have access to workers’ compensation insurance in case of injury on the job.
- In a survey conducted by the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation, 35% of food delivery drivers reported that they had been in a car accident while on the job.
- In a survey conducted by the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 16% of food delivery drivers reported experiencing a work-related injury in the previous 12 months.
- Falls on the job can also be disabling for delivery drivers. In the BLS study, 23% of work-related accidents for drivers resulted from slipping, tripping, or falling.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that fatal injuries among delivery drivers who have sales responsibilities reached a five-year high in 2021, with 72.3% of accidents involving transportation incidents.