Be Proactive with Early Intervention
By Nancy Visco
Injury Prevention Specialist, Fit For Work
The American population is aging, and as we are living longer, we are also working longer. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of employees aged 65 or older has increased by 117% over the last 20 years.
How can we support mature workers in staying healthy and making vital contributions as part of a diverse, inclusive workplace?
Let’s consider how a proactive health and wellness program can help you quit chasing injuries and prevent them instead.
The Benefits
Older employees offer a wealth of advantages, including a lifetime of knowledge and experience. These mature workers also demonstrate a strong work ethic with low absenteeism, contributing to a positive and productive work environment.
Many companies encourage mentoring to help share the wisdom of age and experience with younger employees. For example, I recently saw an older construction worker show a younger employee a better, safer shoveling technique, reducing his risk of muscle strain and back pain. This lifetime focus on “doing things right” can encourage safety and injury prevention for newer team members.
In today’s challenging human resources environment, it’s a good idea to recognize and value the contributions of mature workers.
The Considerations
With an aging workforce, there are issues that can affect safety on the job. Mature employees may experience more joint pain or arthritis, affecting their ability to properly grip tools or lift parts. They may tire more quickly, especially in hot or cold weather conditions. Older workers can lose strength, experience neuropathy, or feel the cumulative effects of past strains or sprains. For example, a worker with 40 years of construction experience probably has had multiple musculoskeletal injuries with long-term implications.
Other effects of aging include vision and balance issues that may put a worker at increased risk of a slip, trip, or fall. Reduced hearing may impact the ability to hear horns, alarms, or approaching vehicles.
The following may signal a need for increased attention on this segment of your workforce:
- A higher percentage of your workforce is now aged 65 or older
- Your workplace environment includes highly physical or repetitive work
- Workers are experiencing an uptick in recordable musculoskeletal injuries
- You want to quit chasing injuries and related costs and prevent them instead
- The management team is placing a higher emphasis on retaining experienced employees
- You want to connect your workplace injury prevention and safety program with your health and wellness initiatives
Prevent Injuries
To help you be proactive in injury prevention, we recommend the following tips for mature workers:
- Avoid performing only one kind of movement or maintaining a fixed posture if possible. Think of an older worker stressing muscles and spine by operating a jackhammer or chiseling asphalt for eight hours per day. Encourage changing positions and stretching during breaks for workers at a job site – or even sitting at an office desk.
- When lifting, avoid twisting and bending at the waist, which can lead to back injuries over time. Example: A worker may be able to lift awkwardly once without feeling pain, but they will feel a cumulative effect over an entire shift or several months – especially with aging. See more tips for proper lifting on the job, which can help create good habits.
- Keep work in the “power zone,” the area between the shoulders and hips, to prevent bending, reaching, or working too far away from the body. Think of an employee repetitively lifting objects over their head for hours each day, resulting in pain and possible injury. Working in the “power zone,” close to the body, will limit exposure to awkward posture and excessive force by naturally maximizing your strengths.
- Always “square up” to the work by facing the shoulders, hips, and feet forward in alignment rather than twisting. Consider a warehouse worker moving boxes from the ground or shelves to a conveyor belt all day. Teaching proper technique will make the difference between a safe shift and a low back injury. Sponsoring a lifting lab can help reinforce healthy habits.
- When lifting a heavy object, take the time to ask for help from a coworker or take advantage of mechanical aids such as hand trucks or dollies. Example: An older manufacturing worker could easily lift a large box of parts at age 25 but now needs assistance. We remind people to work safer, not harder, to avoid injury.
- Take breaks throughout the workday, especially if performing the same task or motion. Examples can include using the restroom, getting a drink, or simply stretching in place. Hot days especially require attention to avoid dehydration and overheating.
- Exercise is essential; getting at least 30 minutes daily helps workers stay fit. Remember that flexibility decreases with age; low-impact exercises such as stretching, swimming, or yoga can condition the body. We often see that tight hamstrings lead to low back pain among workers, so proactive stretching is a key component of an exercise program.
Keep in mind that effective forms of education or communication may change depending on workforce age. Do your older workers prefer a paper handout over a website link? Will they respond better to an email or a text message with new information? Design your program around what works for your employees – of all ages.
Be Proactive
Routine healthcare may require more emphasis for older workers, including annual hearing or vision tests, with a reminder to use protection. Encourage regular physicals to monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar levels, hormone changes, and bone density. Changes in mental health, such as depression, may require resources for assistance.
Today, we see many of our workers as industrial athletes, so it follows that a healthy diet and proper hydration are priorities; this is especially true for older employees. Also, pay extra attention to removing snow and ice at the workplace, providing extra lighting after dark or during inclement weather.
Other ideas include offering a pre-shift stretching program at the workplace. The routine might include 10-12 stretches that everyone can do in a short amount of time – involving all major muscle groups. A gym/fitness center membership may also be helpful, with incentives to encourage use. Buy-in by experienced workers can encourage your younger workforce to get on board with health and wellness.
Increased focus on injury prevention leads to fewer lost-time injuries and lower workers’ compensation costs – as well as the ability to continue meeting production goals. You’ll be more proactive and less reactive, helping employees to stay on the job and provide for themselves and their families.
Watch for Trends
A comprehensive focus on the three leading indicators – early soreness, ergonomics, and behaviors – can help get ahead of injuries. Watch for trends in employee soreness and be proactive. For example, a client noticed an uptick in employees’ shoulder soreness; they asked the Fit For Work team to design a proactive shoulder strengthening program, which addressed the problem.
Ergonomic assessments can include workstation analysis to catch potential injury risk. By observing employees work, we can note behaviors – such as improper lifting – that need to change.
Tracking trends may lead to instituting job rotation, workstation modifications, or better tools that can prevent injury. Adding an extra layer of consideration for aging employees will help make great strides forward in preventing lost-time injuries, avoiding workers’ compensation claims, and meeting workplace safety and production goals.
How Fit For Work Can Help
Fit For Work onsite injury prevention specialists work directly on the floor, in the field, out in the trucks – wherever your employees are – to prevent injury from occurring. Instead of delivering a solution that simply reacts, you can shift your workplace injury prevention program upstream into proactivity with measurable results.
Looking to learn more about Fit For Work and our Early Intervention services? Click here.
Helpful links:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): Data and Statistics on Aging Workers
Nancy Visco is an Injury Prevention Specialist with Fit For Work. Prior to joining Fit For Work in September 2019, she worked in outpatient orthopedics, and the secondary school setting for over 20 years. Nancy earned her bachelor’s in athletic training and sports medicine from the University of Connecticut. Within Fit For Work, Nancy has worked with various clients in the grocery, telecommunication, and construction industries, and enjoys her role as a mentor to new hires.
