Role of aging on the cost of construction injuries

Background: Due to the nature of the trade, construction workers experience a physically demanding work environment. Thus, the costs of injuries associated with an aging workforce can be significant. The goal of this study was to determine the impact of age on the workers' compensation claims among workers in the construction industry. Methods: Over 100,000 workers' compensation claims from the years 1998 to 2008 representing all construction trades in Colorado were obtained. Descriptive analyses, correlations, analyses of variance and linear regression analyses were used to determine the costs (total, medical and indemnity) associated with injuries by age. Results: Older workers incurred more indemnity costs than medical costs. Analyses of variance indicated that there was a significant difference in mean indemnity costs between age groups. A priori multiple comparison tests revealed that older workers (45+) incurred more indemnity costs than the younger age groups. Linear regression analyses revealed that the indemnity cost of a claim increased by 3.51% per year increase in age where as the medical cost of a claim increased by 1.11% per year increase in age. Conclusions: The impact of the aging population on the construction industry is significant. The shift towards an older work force will result in an increase in the proportion of occupational injuries among older workers, which will result in increased costs associated with severe injuries and disabilities. Employers who wish to remain competitive in the construction market must effectively manage a health and safety program that acknowledges the needs of the aging worker.