FACTS

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Delivery workers face language barriers: Many delivery drivers face language barriers.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.