We are hearing on a regular basis these days that the population, and hence the workforce, is ageing. Whilst governments struggle with the policy settings required to ensure a healthy economy and a viable health system under these changing demographics, little attention has been given to the “on the ground” impacts to small and large businesses.
If workforces will become, on average, older than the norm for which work processes and equipment were set up, the risks of workplace injury can be expected to increase. An obvious focal point for these impacts relates to musculo-skeletal injuries from undertaking manual tasks, but there are risks also for those in sedentary occupations. Less well recognised than physical impacts is the potential for the risk to also incorporate psychological injuries, like anxiety or depression, as a result of work expectations that fit poorly with older workers’ past training / experience and work/life balance requirements.
In preparation for this changing work landscape, employers should consider appropriate risk treatments. These will likely include:
- Conducting a survey to gather data on current and predicted worker age ranges
- Evaluating the physical and psychological requirements to establish a functional capabilities statement for each organisational position
- Assessing the workforce against the functional demands
- Provide the necessary interventions – workplace modifications, education and training, provision of health (and mental health) support etc.
- Monitoring the impacts of these interventions.
Employing organisations both large and small who pay attention to these matters as the community’s age demographics evolve will reap the benefits of a loyal, well-educated and experienced workforce.
Please contact QRMC for more information.
