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New Report Investigates Rise in Injuries to Aging Workers

December 2, 2009

More aging workers are staying on the job. Some would rather be retired, but have seen their retirement savings eroded.  Others can afford to leave but are enticed to stay by employers who pay for their experience.

Whatever their circumstances—according to a newly published study by the Center for Construction Research and Training—aging workers are more prone to serious injury on the job than their younger peers.

Among the study’s findings:

• Older workers continue to grow as a proportion of the working population. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that between 1977 and 2007, employment of workers 65 and older increased 101 percent, compared to a much smaller increase of 59 percent for total employment.
• U.S. workers are living longer than ever before and staying in the work force past age 55
• The consequences of injury are, on average, more severe for older workers. 
• Death resulting from work-related injuries occurs at higher rates among older workers than younger workers.

The study confirms the need for lawmakers and businesses to implement recommendations that were made in 2004 by the National Academy of Science to protect the health of aging workers.  The study states:

Focusing on the health and well-being of all workers throughout their working lifetime will ultimately address the needs of older workers: however there is an urgent need to give particular attention to understanding and addressing the needs of older workers now.

Among policy considerations proposed to help protect aging workers are allowing workers to receive pension payments before age 62 while still working part-time, and the ability to reduce working hours in late career without a reduction in pension or health care benefits.

The study, which follows a February conference entitled “Healthy Aging for Workers,” held at the National Labor College in Silver Spring, Md., includes the experience of workers and unions grappling with aging worker safety in Europe. 
Says International President Edwin D. Hill:

Public policy on workplace safety truly makes a difference.  It’s time to rededicate ourselves to seeing that every worker—from the newest on the job to the most senior—goes home at the end of the day the way they came in.

Photo: National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health