Designing the Age Friendly Worksite1 The Aging Workforce

Where Do You Fit In?  The American Age Discrimination Act uses 40 as an eligibility marker.  WHO and the National Advisory Council on Aging uses age 45.  You can join the AARP at age 50.  Injury/Illness data suggests 55+

The Aging US Workforce United States Workforce Aged % of workforce in % in % by Between , employment of workers 65+ increased 101% (59% for employment of all ages)

Trends - Older workers continue to work and retirees return to work for financial reasons, socialization, and wanting to contribute/feel valued. -However, the most compelling reason to work for older Americans is economic.

Do aging workers need any special accommodations ? -A well-designed work place benefits everyone, young and aging. -Workstations and job tasks that are matched to the needs of the individual employee are always best. -However, that being said, there are some things older workers may need to work safely and comfortably.

Health and Safety Concerns Related to Aging Workers? -Older workers have fewer accidents, but their injuries are often more severe -The time it takes to recuperate is longer. -The types of injuries can be different

Effects of Aging Loss of strength Loss of muscular flexibility Loss of joint range of motion Diminished postural steadiness Reduced grip strength Reduced nervous system responses Reduced visual capacity Slowing of mental processing

Loss of Muscle Strength PROBLEM Decreased muscle mass and strength Increased muscle response time and fatigue SOLUTION Reduce work with static muscle effort (e.g. sustained positions) Increase use of mechanical lifts Keep work in "neutral zone" Eliminate twisting Stretch upper body throughout the day Continue or begin regular exercise programs

Visual Changes - Additional light needed to see, creates more glare. -Harder to recover from glare. -Nighttime legibility distances for a 60 year old is 2/3s that of a 25 year old.

Visual Changes “Near point” gets further away - the closest an object can be and still in focus (presbyopia) -- Age 20 = 4” -- Age 40 = 8.5”

Strategies and Solutions – Visual Changes -Increase lighting levels in dark areas. -Add task lighting at desks and work benches. -Use soft white lights that limit glare.

Strategies and Solutions – Visual Changes Provide consistent, even light levels and gradual changes in light levels -- Uneven patterns produce shadows -- Transitions between outside/inside -- Use dimmers as often as possible

Strategies and Solutions – Visual Changes Improve visibility of stairs -- Most common place for falls, especially first/last step -- Apply traction tape or glow-in- the dark tape to mark edges -- Contrast step colors -- Install handrails on both sides

Strategies and Solutions – Visual Changes For computer users : -- Avoid “bi-focal posture” -- Reduce glare – location of stations, anti-glare screens -- Adjust brightness and contrast settings 20/20/20 Rule (Every 20 minutes look 20 feet away for 20 seconds) – relaxes the focusing muscle

Auditory Changes - difficulty: -- tuning out background noises -- detecting simple, low intensity sound -- locating the source of the sound -- discriminating sounds when multiple noise sources are occurring.

Strategies and Solutions – Auditory Changes - Reduce overall level of noise and background noise with sound dampening products -Maintenance of equipment and machinery - Assure that alarms/warning devices have both auditory and visual alarms. - Think about training programs – can everyone hear? Add in visual clues

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

Strategies and Solutions – Physical Capabilities -Is that lift really necessary? -Look at tasks that require long reaches - Reduce ladder tasks by installing shallow angle stairways in place of ladders for regular elevated access

Strategies and Solutions – Physical Capabilities Defeat worker fatigue by: - Color and decoration of work area - Proper lighting - Music - Exercise - Allow workers to control their environment with regard to breaks and temperature - More frequent, shorter breaks

Cognitive Changes - Short term memory is impaired - Long term memory is reduced - Decisions made more slowly, but the quality is not affected - Ability to learn new material or skills slows - Response time slows, especially as the task gets more complex - Multi-tasking is more difficult

Strategies and Solutions – Cognitive Changes -Make sure work areas and control panels are uncluttered -Look at task series and see if multi- tasking can’t be reduced -Increase decision-making time

Falls - Housekeeping, housekeeping, and more housekeeping!! - Color contrast on ramps, surfaces and stairs - Improve slip-resistance of flooring - Eliminate need for ladders as much as possible

In the Workplace – Ergonomics - Repetitive motion injury is the event with the highest median days away for all industries at Sprains and strains accounted for 39% of injuries requiring days away from work % of those injuries were from overexertion - Overexertion accounted for 48% of injuries to those in health-care related occupations.

Strategies and Solutions - Ergonomics Follow these basic concepts: - Adjust work surface heights: bring down or raise up - Change work area layouts - Provide foot rests - Pad sharp surfaces or tool handles - Rotate jobs or shorten shifts - Limit overtime - Increase frequency of breaks - Consider flex/stretch program

Design Principles Optimize physical demands Eliminate heavy, awkward, and frequent lifting Limit working over shoulder level Limit reaching, bending, squatting, kneeling

Design Principles Limit ladder use Improve housekeeping and maintain walking surfaces Improve lighting and reduce glare Reduce background noise and distractions

Offices A fully adjustable chair correctly positioned is best bang for the buck!

Offices Monitors: – Bigger can be better – Arms allow more adjustment

Offices Keyboards and Mice – Forearm support – Reduce reaching

Offices More opportunities for movement

Offices Don’t forget about lifting

Custodial Long-handled, lightweight tools

Custodial

Large area scrubbers

Custodial Trash dumpers

Custodial Spring-loaded cafeteria tables Lift devices

Transportation Seating adjustments

Transportation Add-on Cushions

Remote-control mirrors and adjustment grids Transportation

Activity before and after driving Transportation

Food Services  Heavier items at waist level

Food Services Carts

Re-design work area to prevent twisting and injury potential.

Food Services Cook pots with tilt handles

Food Services Protection from heat Rest breaks

Food Services Limit reaches

Food Services Mats and floor drains

Food Services Non-slip flooring treatments

Food Services Dry cleaning for spills Special cleaning solutions for grease Follow manufacturer’s directions

Food Services Cook pots with tilt handles

Food Services Protection from heat Rest breaks

Food Services Limit reaches

Food Services Mats and floor drains

Food Services Non-slip flooring treatments

Food Services Dry cleaning for spills Special cleaning solutions for grease Follow manufacturer’s directions

Food Services Slip resistant shoes

Special Education Limit lifting to 35 pounds

Special Education Lifting devices

Special Education Standing aids

Special Education Slide boards, gait belts, and slings

Special Education 2-person transfers

Special Education One-way fabric seat sliders

Special Education Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Special Education Education Safety Association of Ontario

Maintenance Tools to reduce lifting

Maintenance Posture supports

Maintenance Working up high

STAY HEALTHY Don Ebert, Risk Manager (509)