Designing Work Environments and Policies to Promote Healthy Aging

Older workers (>55 years of age) comprise an increasingly large proportion of the U. S. workforce. This demographic trend presents an opportunity and obligation to promote a safe and healthful workplace across the lifespan. Research has shown that older workers have equal to lower injury rates when compared to younger workers but have longer days away from work when injured. In addition, the fatality rate is the highest among older workers. Workplace design is the most effective way to ensure safety, health and job performance. Matching the physical and cognitive demands of work with the physical and cognitive abilities of the workforce will promote safety among all age groups. Methods to decrease injury and to promote healthy aging in the workforce have been in the concepts of universal design with interventions such as: patient handling equipment and safe patient handling policies for healthcare workers; workstation design to accommodate vision impairment in the manufacturing sector; and slip/trip/fall prevention measures in a wide variety of worksites. This session will identify categories of interventions that organizations have employed to promote safety and health in an aging workforce and demonstrate the opportunity for aging issues to bridge occupational health and health promotion efforts in the workplace. This interactive session seeks to stimulate audience comments, discussion and feedback to help in finalizing the “Designing the Age Friendly Workplace” curriculum.