minimizing incidents an aging workforce · • strategies for the workplace. ... especially if...

AIHce 2006 - Chicago, IL 1

MINIMIZING INCIDENTS AN AGING

WORKFORCE

MINIMIZING MINIMIZING INCIDENTS AN AGING INCIDENTS AN AGING

WORKFORCEWORKFORCE

Pamela Ferrante, CSP, CHMMPamela Ferrante, CSP, CHMMJ&C Safety ConsultantsJ&C Safety Consultants

www.jcsafety.comwww.jcsafety.com


TODAY’S PRESENTATIONTODAYTODAY’’S PRESENTATIONS PRESENTATION

•• LetLet’’s Define the Issues Define the Issue•• Normal Aging ProcessesNormal Aging Processes•• The Impact of Aging in the Work The Impact of Aging in the Work

EnvironmentEnvironment•• Strategies for the WorkplaceStrategies for the Workplace


What Do the Numbers Say?What Do the Numbers Say?What Do the Numbers Say?

•• Between 2000 and Between 2000 and 2020, the number of 2020, the number of people in the 55 to people in the 55 to 64 and the 65+ age 64 and the 65+ age brackets will brackets will increase by increase by nearly nearly 40%.40%.

•• The fastest growing The fastest growing age bracket is thoseage bracket is those85 and older.85 and older.



By 2005 there will be 58 By 2005 there will be 58 million workers in this million workers in this country. Median age = 40.5 country. Median age = 40.5 (highest ever)(highest ever)

The number of workers 45 and older The number of workers 45 and older has doubled since 1950.has doubled since 1950.



United States Workforce Aged 55+United States Workforce Aged 55+•• 18.2 million in 2000;18.2 million in 2000;•• 25.2 million in 2008;25.2 million in 2008;•• 31.9 million in 2025.31.9 million in 2025.

38% increase38% increase over the past over the past 10 years and 10 years and 75% increase 75% increase in the past 25 years.in the past 25 years.



The older worker ageThe older worker agegroup is the fastestgroup is the fastest

growing group in thegrowing group in theworkforce; expectedworkforce; expectedto increase annuallyto increase annually

by 3.8%.by 3.8%.



ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT YOU?YOU?

•• You can join the AARP at age 55.You can join the AARP at age 55.•• WHO and the National Advisory WHO and the National Advisory

Council on Aging uses age 45.Council on Aging uses age 45.•• The American Age Discrimination The American Age Discrimination

Act uses 40 as an eligibility Act uses 40 as an eligibility marker.marker.


Oldest by IndustryOldest by Industry

•• ConstructionConstruction -- ~39 years old~39 years old•• Electric Power IndustryElectric Power Industry -- ~44 years ~44 years

oldold•• Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor Company –– 45 years old45 years old•• MinersMiners –– 46 years old46 years old•• HealthcareHealthcare ––

Direct care staffDirect care staff –– 40 years old40 years oldNurses Nurses –– 48 years old (50 in 4 more 48 years old (50 in 4 more years)years)


Why Now?Why Now?Why Now?

•• Expanding economyExpanding economy•• Declining birthrateDeclining birthrate•• People living longerPeople living longer•• Social Security eligibility age Social Security eligibility age

risingrising•• Lack of retirement planningLack of retirement planning•• Baby boomers Baby boomers •• ““SandwichSandwich”” generationgeneration


The Normal Aging ProcessThe Normal Aging ProcessThe Normal Aging Process

PhysicalPhysicalEyesightEyesightHearingHearingSense of touchSense of touchManual dexterityManual dexterityMuscular strengthMuscular strengthChronic medical conditionsChronic medical conditions


The Normal Aging ProcessThe Normal Aging ProcessThe Normal Aging Process

CognitiveCognitiveShortShort--term and longterm and long--term memoryterm memoryDecisionDecision--makingmakingAutonomic attention responsesAutonomic attention responsesAbility to learn new skillsAbility to learn new skillsReaction timesReaction times


Visual ChangesVisual ChangesVisual Changes

1. Loss of elasticity of lens or lens yellows; more light required to see.

2. Lens hardens, ciliary muscles get weaker - eyes can’t change shape to focus as well or as quickly.



•• Additional light needed Additional light needed to see creates more to see creates more glare glare -- also harder to also harder to recover from glare.recover from glare.

•• Night driving is much Night driving is much more difficult.more difficult.



3.3. Your Your ““near pointnear point”” gets further gets further away (the closest an object away (the closest an object can be and still in focus can be and still in focus -- AKA AKA presbyopia)presbyopia)

•• Age 20 Age 20 –– 44””•• Age 30 Age 30 –– 5.55.5””•• Age 40 Age 40 –– 8.58.5””•• Age 100 Age 100 –– 2424””



4.4. Distance acuity/motion perception reduced - ability to determine the details of a moving target - age 45.

5. Contrast sensitivity reduced -ability to recognize faces under low contrast conditions. Distance and depth perception reduced.



6. Phototrophic acuity Phototrophic acuity decreased decreased -- ability to ability to transition from light to transition from light to dark, and vice versa is dark, and vice versa is harder.harder.

7.7. Slower rate of scanning Slower rate of scanning -- difficult to difficult to detect, locate and identify objects detect, locate and identify objects --especially if visual field especially if visual field cluttered/contains distractions. cluttered/contains distractions.


Auditory ChangesAuditory ChangesAuditory Changes

•• Presbycusis begins between age Presbycusis begins between age 3535--4040

•• Results in difficulty:Results in difficulty:tuning out background noises;tuning out background noises;detecting simple, low intensity detecting simple, low intensity sound;sound;locating the source of the sound;locating the source of the sound;discriminating sounds when discriminating sounds when multiple noise sources are multiple noise sources are occurring. occurring.


Auditory ChangesAuditory ChangesAuditory Changes

•• Auditory tasks/stimuli Auditory tasks/stimuli are given lower priority.are given lower priority.

•• Increase in incidence Increase in incidence of vertigo.of vertigo.


Sense of TouchSense of TouchSense of Touch

•• Nerve receptors Nerve receptors in your fingertips in your fingertips declinedecline

•• Up to Up to ¼¼ of older of older adults lose their adults lose their sense of touch sense of touch altogether.altogether.


Manual DexterityManual DexterityManual Dexterity

•• Develop a more Develop a more ““conservative reachconservative reach””(elbow closer to the torso, limited (elbow closer to the torso, limited elevation of shoulder).elevation of shoulder).

•• Grasping objects Grasping objects becomes harder.becomes harder.

•• Fine motor skills Fine motor skills decline.decline.


Muscular StrengthMuscular StrengthMuscular Strength

Basic strength peaks at 30; declines Basic strength peaks at 30; declines thereafter. Decline is more rapid after thereafter. Decline is more rapid after 60, regardless of our overall physical 60, regardless of our overall physical

condition.condition.


Other Physical CapabilitiesOther Physical CapabilitiesOther Physical Capabilities

• Muscle mass and elasticity

• Bone mass and degeneration of the spinal structures

• Control of posture stability

•• Balance and Balance and coordinationcoordination

•• Ability to recover Ability to recover balancebalance

•• Speed of Speed of movementmovement

•• Ability to regulate Ability to regulate body temperaturebody temperature


Cognitive ChangesCognitive ChangesCognitive Changes

•• Fluid intelligence is Fluid intelligence is impaired (short term impaired (short term memory).memory).

•• Ability to retrieve and Ability to retrieve and transfer information is transfer information is reduced (long term reduced (long term memory).memory).



•• Older adults make decisions Older adults make decisions more slowly than younger ones, more slowly than younger ones, but the quality of the decisions is but the quality of the decisions is not affected with age. not affected with age.

•• Causes a problem when Causes a problem when ““automatic attention responsesautomatic attention responses””(AAR) are required for a task.(AAR) are required for a task.



•• Ability to Ability to ““multi taskmulti task”” decreases, decreases, worse if tasks need to be prioritized, worse if tasks need to be prioritized, tasks are unfamiliar, or time is short.tasks are unfamiliar, or time is short.

•• Ability to learn new material or skills Ability to learn new material or skills slows.slows.

•• Response time slows, especially as Response time slows, especially as the task gets more complex.the task gets more complex.


Miscellaneous IssuesMiscellaneous IssuesMiscellaneous Issues

•• Polypharmacy Polypharmacy –– 10 to 30% of ER 10 to 30% of ER visits by older adults are due to visits by older adults are due to adverse drug reactionsadverse drug reactions

•• Increase in depressionIncrease in depression•• Loss of spouse or siblingsLoss of spouse or siblings•• Increase in obesity of general Increase in obesity of general

populationpopulation


What Does it Mean to Me?What Does it Mean to Me?What Does it Mean to Me?

How do all of these changes How do all of these changes translate into problems in the translate into problems in the

workplace?workplace?


Minimizing Incidents in an Aging Workforce

Minimizing Incidents in an Minimizing Incidents in an Aging WorkforceAging Workforce

FALLSFALLS•• Adults over age 64 have a 3x Adults over age 64 have a 3x

greater risk of falling greater risk of falling (Department of Labor).(Department of Labor).

•• Average lost work days for a Average lost work days for a fallfall--related injury: related injury: >55 >55 -- 11 days11 days<55 <55 -- 6 days6 days




Fatal FallsFatal Falls

15 to 44 15 to 44 -- >15 feet >15 feet 45+ 45+ -- >7 feet>7 feet

*14% of fatalities *14% of fatalities among older workers among older workers are from falls (9% for are from falls (9% for younger age groups)younger age groups)




Fleet SafetyFleet Safety•• Leading cause of Leading cause of

fatalities for workers >55 fatalities for workers >55 is roadway MVAs (22%)is roadway MVAs (22%)

•• NonNon--roadway MVAs roadway MVAs accounted for another accounted for another 12%12%

•• Opposite for general Opposite for general publicpublic




•• More likely to More likely to occur at an occur at an intersection intersection ––turning leftturning left

•• Merging or Merging or changing lanes changing lanes on highwayon highway




Possible Reasons Why Possible Reasons Why

1.1. Glare/vision issuesGlare/vision issues2.2. Slower reaction timesSlower reaction times3.3. Decrease in cognitive functioningDecrease in cognitive functioning4.4. Decreasing muscle strength and Decreasing muscle strength and

range of motionrange of motion5.5. Chronic medical problemsChronic medical problems




Older workers who Older workers who must drive for must drive for work canwork can’’t selft self--select driving select driving times and often are times and often are rushing to meet rushing to meet deadlinesdeadlines




Ergonomics Related Injuries

37% of all work-related disabilities

among older workers are CTDs.




Hearing related Hearing related disabilities are the disabilities are the third most third most common disability common disability among older among older adults; behind adults; behind arthritis and arthritis and hypertension.hypertension.




Psychosocial IssuesPsychosocial Issues

•• Hiring freezes/lay offs = more Hiring freezes/lay offs = more overtime and longer shifts. overtime and longer shifts.

•• Shift work has a cumulative fatigue Shift work has a cumulative fatigue effect; less tolerated by older effect; less tolerated by older workers. workers.

•• Decreased alertness becomes more Decreased alertness becomes more prevalent.prevalent.




Psychosocial Issues

• $4 billion per year spent due to worker absenteeism - dealing with personal problems among older workers;

• $4.9 billion to replace employees who resign for work/family issues.

Source: AARP




A Crucial DistinctionA Crucial Distinction

•• Total injury Total injury ratesrates are actually lower are actually lower among older workers; although older among older workers; although older workers are more likely to die or take workers are more likely to die or take longer to recuperate. longer to recuperate.

•• Some good hypotheses as to why, Some good hypotheses as to why, but nothing proven as of yet.but nothing proven as of yet.


Strategies and SolutionsStrategies and SolutionsStrategies and Solutions

So What Can So What Can We Do?We Do?



Visual ChangesVisual Changes

1.1. Raise the level of illumination.Raise the level of illumination.2.2. Consistent, even light levels.Consistent, even light levels.3.3. Gradual changes in light Gradual changes in light

levels.levels.4.4. Eliminate glareEliminate glare..



Visual ChangesVisual Changes

5.5. Increase color contrast.Increase color contrast.6.6. Improve visibility of stairs.Improve visibility of stairs.7.7. Proper setProper set--up of computer work up of computer work

stations.stations.8.8. Consult with a lighting/noise Consult with a lighting/noise

reduction expertreduction expert



Table lamps should be Table lamps should be tall enough for the tall enough for the

bottom of the bottom of the lampshade to fall at lampshade to fall at the eye level of the the eye level of the

person seated next to person seated next to it.it.



Designing Color ChangesDesigning Color Changes1.1. Use pastels on walls and large Use pastels on walls and large

areas.areas.2.2. Green/blue walls for tasks Green/blue walls for tasks

requiring high concentration.requiring high concentration.3.3. Provide visual interest in color.Provide visual interest in color.4.4. Critical machine parts in bright Critical machine parts in bright

or contrasting colors (no more or contrasting colors (no more than 5 accent colors).than 5 accent colors).



Auditory ChangesAuditory Changes1.1. Reduce overall level of noise and Reduce overall level of noise and

background noise with sound background noise with sound dampening products.dampening products.

2.2. Assure that alarms/warning Assure that alarms/warning devices have both auditory and devices have both auditory and visual alarms.visual alarms.

3.3. Implement a Hearing Conservation Implement a Hearing Conservation Program.Program.



Manual DexterityManual Dexterity•• Substitute levers or Substitute levers or

push buttons for push buttons for knobs.knobs.

•• Assure that tasks Assure that tasks have a comfortable have a comfortable range of motion range of motion ––review control review control panels.panels.



Strategies for Muscular Strategies for Muscular StrengthStrength

Provide opportunities for Provide opportunities for strength training strength training –– (on site (on site gyms, fitness classes, gyms, fitness classes, morning stretches).morning stretches).

Encourage employees to Encourage employees to participate in fitness participate in fitness programs off work.programs off work.



Strategies for Muscular Strength

Take a look at tasks requiring lifting; use mechanical means where possible.



DonDon’’t Overlookt Overlook

•• Review work/break Review work/break schedule; revise to schedule; revise to reduce fatigue reduce fatigue ––more breaks.more breaks.

•• Provide Provide opportunities for opportunities for napping.napping.



Body Temp. RegulationBody Temp. Regulation

•• Review PPE Hazard Review PPE Hazard Assessments for Assessments for proper selection and proper selection and sufficient supply sufficient supply --focus on hands and focus on hands and body.body.

Sense of TouchSense of Touch

•• Install thermal Install thermal sensorssensors

•• Provide hand Provide hand protectionprotection



Ergonomic IssuesErgonomic Issues

•• Weak abdominal muscles/lack of Weak abdominal muscles/lack of regular exercise = spinal instability regular exercise = spinal instability and back pain.and back pain.

•• Walking/weight bearing exercises Walking/weight bearing exercises are crucial as we age are crucial as we age –– provide provide opportunities (time opportunities (time andand space) at space) at workplace.workplace.



Fall ProtectionFall Protection

•• Housekeeping, Housekeeping, housekeeping, and more housekeeping, and more housekeeping!!housekeeping!!

•• Color contrast on ramps, Color contrast on ramps, surfaces, and stairssurfaces, and stairs

•• Handrails on all stairwaysHandrails on all stairways•• Establish a balance Establish a balance

exercise program.exercise program.



Fleet SafetyFleet Safety•• Evaluate delivery Evaluate delivery

schedules/routesschedules/routes•• Regular driving Regular driving

refresher training refresher training classesclasses

•• Regular medical Regular medical evaluations for driversevaluations for drivers



Cognitive ChangesCognitive Changes

•• Minimize the complexity Minimize the complexity of tasks.of tasks.

•• Consider automating Consider automating certain processes.certain processes.

•• Eliminate clutter on Eliminate clutter on computer screens and computer screens and work areas.work areas.



Cognitive ChangesCognitive Changes

•• Lengthen time Lengthen time requirements between requirements between steps in a task.steps in a task.

•• Reduce need for multi Reduce need for multi tasking.tasking.

•• Increase decision making Increase decision making time.time.



Cognitive ChangesCognitive Changes•• Consider reaction Consider reaction

time when assigning time when assigning workers to tasks.workers to tasks.

•• Provide Provide opportunities for opportunities for practice and time to practice and time to develop familiarity.develop familiarity.



•• Older adults learn differently, Older adults learn differently, respond positively to opportunities respond positively to opportunities to practice. to practice.

•• Use frequent, hands on refreshers Use frequent, hands on refreshers (especially for emergency (especially for emergency responses/AAR tasks).responses/AAR tasks).



Effective training:Effective training:•• relates to past learning relates to past learning

experiences,experiences,•• moves at an acceptable pace,moves at an acceptable pace,•• involves learning smaller pieces of involves learning smaller pieces of

information at a time.information at a time.



Psychosocial IssuesPsychosocial Issues•• Develop caregiving resources Develop caregiving resources

referral list.referral list.•• Provide retirement planning Provide retirement planning

resources.resources.•• Provide opportunities for older Provide opportunities for older

workers to transition into workers to transition into retirement retirement –– part time, flex time, part time, flex time, bridge employment.bridge employment.

•• Expand FMLA benefits.Expand FMLA benefits.



Psychosocial IssuesPsychosocial Issues•• Provide opportunities for workers to Provide opportunities for workers to

take responsibility for their health take responsibility for their health ––wellness programs, fitness training, wellness programs, fitness training, weight management, etc.weight management, etc.

•• Brown bag seminars on Brown bag seminars on ““seniorsenior””issues issues –– i.e. medication use, i.e. medication use, depression, coping with loss, disease depression, coping with loss, disease management.management.


MINIMIZING INCIDENTS IN AN AGING WORKFORCE

MINIMIZING INCIDENTS MINIMIZING INCIDENTS IN AN AGING IN AN AGING WORKFORCEWORKFORCE

Thanks for your attention!!

minimizing incidents an aging workforce · • strategies for the workplace. ... especially if...

Documents