Aging Workers: What To Look for In Workplace Safety

In an article for Occupational Hazards, Robert Pater, managing director of Strategic Safety Associates, argues that, for workplace safety strategists, it is critical to plan for the impacts of an aging work force. In particular, he suggests tht one consider five changes that happen as we age that can directly affect workplace safety:

• changes in balance,
• reduced flexibility,
• impacts on attention, vision, and memory,
• diminishing usable strength, and
• slowing reaction times.

For each of these, he suggests some solutions that transfer skills and methods that will help workers become safer, stronger and more in control, even as they age.

Source: "Safety Catalyst: Boosting Safety With an Aging Work Force" Occupational Hazards (March 13, 2006)