Are Older Workers at Greater Risk for Workplace Injuries?

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As the overall rate of workplace fatalities falls, the rate of workplace death for older workers is increasing dramatically, according to an analysis of federal workplace safety statistics by the Associated Press. It seems that Baby Boomers are rejecting the traditional retirement age of 65 and are choosing to keep on working.  While the general workforce in the U.S. has grown about 6%, there has been a 37% increase in older workers during that same period.

In a story reported by CBS News, Ken Scott, an epidemiologist with the Denver Public Health Department said that the physical changes associated with getting older, “could potentially make a workplace injury into a much more serious injury or a potentially fatal injury.” The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that by 2024, 25% of the U.S. workforce is projected to be 55 and older.

What makes older workers at a greater risk of serious injury at work?

While older workers get injured less often than younger workers, the injuries they do sustain tend to be more severe and require a longer recovery time. There are some practical reasons for the increase in injury risk including:

• Loss of muscle strength. Humans tend to lose muscle strength over time, and this weakness makes older people at greater risk for slips and falls. It also increases the risk that a fall will cause a serious injury.
• Hearing loss and vision loss increase as we age, which can have an impact on a person’s safety in the workplace.
• Falls are one of the main injury risks for older workers. While some falls can be minor, others can be serious and result in traumatic brain injury and other disabling injuries.

Tips for preventing workplace injuries for older workers

Because so many of these accidents that cause older workers’ injuries and deaths are preventable, a workers’ compensation insurer and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have come up with the following tips to make the workplace safer for older employees:

• NIOSH advocates job flexibility for older workers including schedules, locations and tasks.
• Factor movement in to the work environment rather than allowing people to remain sedentary for the entire work day.
• Integrating a wellness program can help prevent strains, sprains and falls by improving flexibility, strength and balance by offering Yoga, Pilates or Tai Chi.
• Promote healthy lifestyles for all workers and accommodate medical self-care in the workplace and time away for health visits.
• Prevent slip-and-fall injuries by maintaining parking lots, sidewalks; keeping walkways clear of debris, using slip-resistant floor treatments where necessary and encourage slip-resistant footwear where appropriate.
• Make sure that employees can meet the physical demands of their job
• Perform an ergonomic evaluation for every employee’s work area.

CBS News reports that Ruth Finkelstein, co-director of Columbia University’s Aging Center, warns that stereotyping older workers is a mistake. “She said older people have a range of physical and mental abilities and that it’s dangerous to lump all people in an age group together because it could lead to discrimination.” Becoming aware of the conditions that can pose an increased hazard for older workers and doing what is necessary to mitigate those hazards will create a workplace that is safer for everyone.

Workers of any age who have been injured on the job and who need representation are welcome to contact a workers’ compensation attorney from Silverman, McDonald & Friedman now.

The law firm of Silverman, McDonald, & Friedman has worked for years to provide competent, trusted legal advice and representation for injured workers. We want to fight for your rights. We have helped workers in towns such as Seaford, Wilmington and Newark have recovered damages for workplace injuries. No cost consultations are available at our office locations. Please call 302-888-2900 or fill out our contact form today.