[Occupational health policies in older workers: comparative analysis between Spain and Chile]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze and compare the current Spanish and Chilean regulations regarding occupational risk prevention, regarding the existence of specific indications that protect the occupational health and safety of people over 55 years of age.

METHOD

Qualitative study in which a documentary content analysis was carried out using ATLAS/ti. The sample was 88 regulatory documents on occupational risk prevention for Spain and Chile. The guidance of the European Agency for Safety at Work (EU-OSHA) regarding age-critical risks was followed.

RESULTS

In global terms, 21.9% of the total Spanish documents analyzed show the explicit presence of considerations on aging, while for Chile this occurs in 9%. Both countries mention indications regarding ergonomic risks and noise. Shift work and psychosocial risks are considered only in Spain, while extreme temperatures, vibrations and geographical altitude appear exclusively in Chilean regulations. Neither country refers to issues inherent to working women (care responsibilities, menopause).

CONCLUSIONS

The Spanish regulations present a greater presence of indications on aging compared to the Chilean one. However, development in this area is insufficient in both countries. Chile and Spain have guides of recommendations, which are not mandatory, and their application is voluntary. This suggests that the prevention of occupational risks has a great pending challenge with people over 55 years of age.

Which interventions are used in the rehabilitation, return, and stay at work process of aging workers having suffered an occupational injury? A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Considering current labour shortages, the recent increase in the number of aging workers in the labour market is deemed economically beneficial. However, due to specific characteristics (e.g. biological, generational), aging workers take longer to recover and return to work after an occupational injury. Yet, few studies have examined the rehabilitation, return, and stay at work process of aging workers and current knowledge makes it difficult for stakeholders to identify which interventions to use with this specific population.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to describe which interventions are used in the rehabilitation, return, and stay at work process of aging workers having suffered an occupational injury.

METHODS

We conducted a five-step scoping review. Five databases were used for the literature search. A qualitative analysis of the retained manuscripts was conducted.

RESULTS

Our analysis led to the extraction of information from seven manuscripts that concern the rehabilitation, return, and stay at work process of aging workers who suffered an occupational injury exclusively. We identified 19 interventions (e.g. work capacity development, work task modifications, permanent part-time work, and alternative roles) and were described according to the different phases of the Cycle of Work Disability Prevention (CWDP).

CONCLUSIONS

This study offers informative, non-prescriptive, and operational interventions useful for stakeholders who support aging workers. Furthermore, it is a knowledge base to develop future projects that promote the rehabilitation, return, and stay at work process of aging workers.

Multidimensional health heterogeneity of Chinese older adults and its determinants

Background

Nowadays, the "Healthy China" and "Actively Addressing Population Aging" are two important national strategies in China. Promoting high-quality development of demand-driven older adults health services is an important way to achieve these strategies. From the perspective of active ageing, assessing the health status of older adults from multiple dimensions becomes crucial as it helps identify their specific health service needs, intervention measures, and health policies tailored to this population.

Methods

Data were derived from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) wave 4 (2018). A total of 4190 older adults (aged ≥60 years) were included as the analysis sample. Latent class analysis was performed to categorize older adults based on 6 health indicators, including Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), doctor diagnosed chronic diseases, depressive symptoms, cognitive function, and social participation. Multinomial logistic model was used to explore determinants associated with the various patterns of multidimensional health of older adults.

Results

The multidimensional health of older people was classified into three latent classes: Relatively Healthy (Class 1, n = 2806, 66.97%), Highly Depressed and Relatively Health Risk (Class 2, n = 1189, 28.38%), and Functional Impairment (Class 3, n = 195, 4.65%). Gender, age, education, marital status, number of children, alcohol consumption, physical activity, savings, residence, air quality satisfaction, and medical service satisfaction had significant effects on the attribution of all multidimensional health latent classes.

Conclusion

Heterogeneous and multidimensional health classes exist in China's older population, and these classes are influenced by a variety of factors and to varying degrees. Policymakers and healthcare providers can use these evidence to further address the diverse needs of older adults and improve older-care health services, ultimately achieving the goal of Active Ageing and Healthy China.

Descriptive analysis and a proposal for a predictive model of fatal occupational accidents in Spain

Accidents at work are a problem in today's economic structures, but if they result in the loss of human lives, the economic and social cost is even higher. The development of prevention policies, both at governmental and sectoral level, has led to a progressive reduction of occupational accidents, but number of fatal accidents remain high. The aim of this study is to explore the evolution of fatal accidents at work in Spain for the period 2009-2021, analyse the relationship between the main variables, and propose a predictive model of fatal occupational accidents in Spain. Data for this study are collected from occupational accident reports via the Delt@ (Electronic declaration of injured workers) IT system. The study variables were classified into five groups: temporal, personal, business, circumstances, and consequences. Fatal accidents at work are more common in males and in older workers, especially in workers between 40 and 59 years old. Companies with less than five workers have the highest percentage of fatal accidents, and the transport subsector and that the worker is carrying out his/her usual work have a strong correlation in the fatal accidents. Results can help to the agents involved in the health and safety management to develop preventive measures, and action plans.

Prevalence of sarcopenia components and associated socioeconomic factors among older adults living in rural areas in the state of Ceará, Brazil

The aim is to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia components and associations with socioeconomic variables in older persons living in rural areas in the state of Ceará, Brazil. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 274 older adults. Muscle mass was assessed using muscle mass index (MMI), measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis and calf circumference. Muscle strength (MS) was assessed using the handgrip test. Physical performance was measured using the walk test to calculate gait speed (GS) and the timed up-and-go test. Probable sarcopenia was defined as the presence of low MS, while confirmed sarcopenia was defined as the presence of low MS and low MMI. Severe sarcopenia was defined as the presence of the latter two criteria and slow GS. We tested for associations between sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle habits and the components of sarcopenia. The logistic regression produced the following results: i) prevalence of low MS was higher among men, individuals aged >69 years, and in those not working at the time of the study; ii) the prevalence of low MMI was higher in individuals aged >69 years, those not living with a spouse, and those with an inadequate level of physical activity; iii) the prevalence of slow GS was higher in individuals aged >69 years, those who had lived in rural areas for less than 30 years, and those not working at the time of the study.

A preliminary study on the barriers and facilitators to improving the health, safety, and well-being of aging heavy vehicle drivers

INTRODUCTION

Managers from road freight transportation organizations were interviewed on barriers and facilitators to implementation of occupational health, safety, and well-being interventions for aging heavy vehicle drivers. As aging drivers are more likely to be seriously injured or die in a work-related incident than younger drivers, it is important to recognize strengths and weaknesses throughout the system to identify intervention that addresses their specific needs.

METHOD

A Systems Theoretic Accident Model and Processes (STAMP) control structure was constructed to chart the controllers, controls, and feedback channels in the system to identify gaps in health, safety, and well-being intervention in the system. The STAMP control structure also charted the barriers and facilitators within levels across the system. Eleven managers were recruited into the study representing a range of road freight transportation organizations throughout Australia.

RESULTS

Interview data revealed that barriers and facilitators existed at most levels of the system. Facilitators included advice from external agencies, support from upper management, modern technology, and regular social communication with drivers. Barriers were a lack of guidance on aging issues, operational conflicts with health and safety objectives, and the drivers' fear of disclosing health information associated with their driving role. In regards to formalized intervention in place to support aging heavy vehicle drivers, the system is reliant on fitness to drive medical assessments based on age and jurisdiction.

CONCLUSIONS

As there was generally a lack of senior direction cited from the upper levels of the system on aging issues, there was much variation across the study on how aging risks are managed in the workplace for heavy vehicle drivers.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

This study recommends that managers across the road freight transportation industry receive formalized aging-awareness health and safety training in how to manage work-related driving hazards for aging heavy vehicle drivers.

Trends in fatal occupational injury rates among older workers before and after the Great Recession of 2008

BACKGROUND

Older workers experience higher rates of fatal occupational injury than younger workers worldwide. In North Carolina, the population of older workers more than doubled between 2000 and 2017. In 2008, the Great Recession changed occupational patterns among all age groups. We examined annual rates and distribution of fatal occupational injuries experienced by older workers, comparing the pre-recession period (2000-2007) to the post-recession period (2009-2017).

METHODS

Detailed information on all fatal occupational injuries during the period between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2017 were abstracted from the records of the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the office of vital records. The decennial Census and American Community Survey were used to estimate the population at risk and derive annual rates of fatal occupational injury.

RESULTS

During the study period, 537 occupational fatalities occurred among workers 55+ years of age. The rate of fatal occupational injury among older workers declined 2.8% per year, with a 7.7% yearly decline in the pre-recession period compared with a 1.4% increase per year in the post-recession period. Workers 65+ years of age experienced rate increases in both periods. The highest rates of unintentional fatal occupational injury (injuries that were not purposefully inflicted) were observed in forestry, fishing hunting and trapping, and wood building manufacturing. Intentional fatal occupational injury rates (homicide, suicide) were highest in transportation, gas/service stations and grocery/food stores.

CONCLUSIONS

Older workers have persistently high rates of fatal occupational injury in North Carolina before and after the Great Recession.

L'expérience de retour au travail des personnes vieillissantes ayant subi une atteinte à la santé : un examen de la portée

Aging workers represent an emerging, growing, and essential population for the contemporary labour market. Considering their unique characteristics, these individuals are at risk of experiencing periods of disability at work due to different reasons (e.g., chronic diseases, occupational injuries) and a different return-to-work experience compared to younger workers. The scoping review presented in this article aimed to identify facilitators and barriers to returning to work in aging people who suffered a health impairment. Information from 34 manuscripts was extracted and analyzed, enabling the identification of factors hindering and facilitating the return to work of aging individuals, with regard to four systems: the individual, work, health, and compensation. The results suggest levers accessible to the various stakeholders involved in the process of returning to work for aging individuals to promote their healthy, safe, and satisfactory participation in work after a period of disability.

Construction Accidents in Spain: Implications for an Aging Workforce

Construction workers are getting older. In the European Union, the percentage of workers over 50 grew from 24.7% in 2011 to 31.5% in 2018, in Spain from 20.4% to 31.2%. Objective. Identify trends and detailed patterns of accidents of older construction workers compared to other age groups. Data and Method. We analyzed construction accidents in Spain from 2011 to 2018 (N = 455,491). The number of accidents and lost working days (LWD) were broken down by occupation, seniority, company size, temporal variables (weekday, hour), trigger, and body part injured and compared for different age groups. Results. Although older worker had fewer accidents, the consequences of accidents were more serious. Those over 50 years had 84% more lost working days (LWD) than those under 24 years, 48% more than those between 25 and 39 years, and 21% more than those between 40 and 49 years. (1) Occupation: the percentage of accidents grew with age for supervisors, lorry drivers, and bricklayers. (2) Seniority: the least experienced (less than 6 months) and the most experienced (more than 6 years) had the most LWD. (3) Company size: there are 24.5% of accidents in companies of less than four workers. (4) Trigger: older workers suffered more falls, both from height and at the same level. (5) Time: the percentage of accidents in those over 50 was higher on Thursdays and Fridays, in the afternoons from 4 to 7 p.m., and after four hours of work. (6) Injury: this shows the longest absences for shoulder injuries for those over 50 years, with an average of 70 LWD.

Analysis of ergonomic occupational accidents and near misses in a large Belgian university hospital

INTRODUCTION

Health-care organizations are facing a high burden of ergonomic occupational accidents, and prevention is a continuous point of interest. In this manuscript, we describe the characteristics of ergonomic accidents in a large Belgian university hospital and discuss the value of near misses.

METHODS

Combining databases, we identified the frequency [number of accidents × 10⁶ hours worked per year], severity (number of days off work × 10³ hours worked per year), and profile of the victims of occupational ergonomic accidents (with absence from work) or incidents or near-misses (without absence from work). Ergonomic accidents and incidents include slips, trips, falls, injurious body movements, overexertion, and handling heavy weights.

RESULTS

In a period of 23 years, we noticed a significant decrease in the frequency of ergonomic accidents (from about 7 to about 4 standard units), without changes in the severity. The decrease in the frequency of accidents is mirrored by an increase in the frequency of incidents (from about 4 to about 6 standard units). Female and older employees are more vulnerable to accidents, and the frequency was between two and four times higher for employees mostly involved in manual tasks compared to employees mostly involved in managerial tasks. The profile of the victims and the causes of accidents and incidents were identical.

CONCLUSION

Although it is premature to assume a cause-consequence relationship between incidents and accidents, it is tempting to speculate that the increased ratio of the frequencies of incidents over accidents might be one of the variables reflecting the adequacy of preventive measures and the growth of safety behavior.

Job quality trajectories among baby-boomers in Germany and their consequences for the motivation to work – results from the lidA cohort study

In light of a large proportion of older workers leaving the German labour market in the near future, policy makers aim to extend working lives to ensure sustainability of the social security system. In this context, safe and healthy working conditions are considered a precondition for encouraging employment participation. To understand better the role of the work environment in pre-retirement years, we draw upon an established model of five job quality profiles for the German ageing workforce. We explored seven-year profile development and linked selected manual and non-manual job quality trajectories to the motivation to work (MTW) using data from the 2011, 2014 and 2018 assessments of the lidA cohort study (valid N = 2,863). We found that older workers shifted to physically less-demanding profiles. Individual profile stability was prevalent among one-third of the workers. In 2018, there was a higher MTW when job quality remained favourable or improved early, while later improvements were associated with lower MTW. Early deterioration of job quality was associated with lower MTW levels among workers with non-manual trajectories only. The results highlight the dynamic job quality situation of the older German workforce and the importance of adopting a person-centred perspective when investigating working conditions and its effects. They further underline the need to consider quality of work when designing and implementing strategies to extend working lives.

Risk Factors Preventing Immediate Fall Detection: A Study Using Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial Regression

PURPOSE

Falls are the most common accidents in healthcare facilities, and timely intervention can have a positive effect on the hazards and trauma experienced by patients after a fall. This study determined the factors affecting the time taken to detect a fall.

METHODS

A total of 3,470 cases of falls reported through the Korea Patient Safety Reporting and Learning System were included in the analysis. A zero-inflated negative binomial regression method was used for this retrospective secondary data analysis study.

RESULTS

There were 537 patients whose falls were not detected immediately; the count model was used to predict risk factors that delayed fall detection. Women aged 60-69 years-compared to those below 60 years and an evening nursing shift, compared to a day shift-were identified as significant factors. The fall detection time of about 2,933 patients was zero; therefore, the logit model was applied to predict a patient's possibility of belonging to the group whose fall was detected immediately. Comparisons of tertiary hospitals with general hospitals and hospitals, of the evening shift with the day shift, and of the day shift with the night shift indicated significant influencing factors.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings can assist nurses in recognizing patient and hospital characteristics related to delayed fall detection. Strategies to improve patient safety in healthcare facilities that focus on patient characteristics such as age can be recommended. Furthermore, nurse staffing requires improvement to detect fall incidents immediately.

Is working in later life good for your health? A systematic review of health outcomes resulting from extended working lives

Background

Work, rather than unemployment, is recognised as being good for health, but there may be an age when the benefits are outweighed by adverse impacts. As countries around the world increase their typical retirement age, the potential effect on population health and health inequalities requires scrutiny.

Methods

We carried out a systematic review of literature published since 2011 from developed countries on the health effects of employment in those over 64 years of age. We completed a narrative synthesis and used harvest plots to map the direction and volume of evidence for the outcomes reported. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) checklist in our methods and reporting.

Results

We identified seventeen relevant studies, which were of cohort or cross-sectional design. The results indicate evidence of beneficial or neutral effects from extended working on overall health status and physical health for many employees, and mixed effects on mental health. The benefits reported however, are most likely to be for males, those working part-time or reducing to part-time, and employees in jobs which are not low quality or low reward.

Conclusions

Extending working life (particularly part time) may have benefits or a neutral effect for some, but adverse effects for others in high demand or low reward jobs. There is the potential for widening health inequalities between those who can choose to reduce their working hours, and those who need to continue working full time for financial reasons. There is a lack of evidence for effects on quality of life, and a dearth of interventions enabling older workers to extend their healthy working life.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-11423-2.

Integrated Prevention at Work: Protocol for a Concept Analysis

Background

Integrated prevention at work promises to eliminate the boundaries between primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention actions taken by stakeholders in the world of work. It is receiving increasing attention from the scientific community because of its concerted and harmonized approach, which promotes employment access, return, and healthy long-term continuation. Although promising, integrated prevention is not yet well-defined, which makes it difficult to operationalize.

Objective

This manuscript exposes the protocol of a study aiming to conceptualize integrated prevention at work on the basis of scientific and experiential knowledge.

Methods

Using a concept analysis research design, data collection has been planned in 2 parts. A meta-narrative literature review will first be conducted to document how integrated prevention has been defined in the literature. Then, phone interviews will be conducted with key informers (ie, managers, workers, ergonomists, occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists, union and insurance representatives) to document their viewpoints and understanding of integrated prevention at work. Qualitative data gathered during these 2 parts of research will be analyzed using template analysis, which allows data from literature and empirical collection to be analyzed simultaneously. The analysis will bring out the points of convergence, divergence, and complementarity between the information gleaned from literature and key informers’ experiences to arrive at a conceptualization of integrated prevention at work by identifying its uses, attributes, antecedents, and consequences. As a final step, validation and interpretation with a TRIAGE (Technique for Research of Information by Animation of a Group of Experts) group will be carried out in collaboration with the key informers to identify the tools for the implementation of integrated prevention at work and promote workers’ health and safety.

Results

This study is expected to offer a contemporary conceptualization of integrated prevention at work that clearly lays out the variables of this concept and elicits the viewpoints of the different stakeholders.

Conclusions

This study will contribute to the advancement of knowledge about the professional injury prevention continuum. The clear identification of the uses, attributes, antecedents, and consequences of integrated prevention at work will offer concrete tools to stakeholders to implement innovative and promising approaches to integrated prevention at work.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/29869

Age-Dependent Influence of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivations on Construction Worker Performance

The increasing sophistication and complexity of construction technology have also increased workers' physical risk and psychological stress. This study examined the relationships between health risks, work motivation, and productivity as perceived by construction workers. A hypothetical model of worker perceptions, and the psychological factors influencing these perceptions, was developed. A total of 324 construction workers at a Japanese construction company participated in the study and were divided into two groups: younger (45 years of age and below) and older adults (46 years of age and above). Data were collected using a questionnaire. The differences between the age groups were analyzed with regard to their perceptions of health risks, motivation, work skills, and productivity. Both younger and older workers were affected by intrinsic motivations and extrinsic motivations, but the effect of these motivations on work performance differed depending on age. Higher health risks are anticipated to affect the work motivation and productivity perceptions of older workers. The proposed model and findings of this study contribute to understanding worker motivations and have important implications for labor management of construction projects. By addressing construction workers' intrinsic (e.g., interest) and extrinsic (e.g., reward) motivations, it is possible to sustainably improve project productivity.

The Meaning of Work and Self-Management Experiences among Elderly Workers with Multiple Chronic Diseases: A Qualitative Study

With population aging, increasingly many elderly individuals are expected to participate in economic activities. Elderly workers have a higher prevalence of multiple chronic diseases, making it necessary to examine elderly workers' experiences of health-related self-management in work environments. This qualitative study investigated the meaning of work and health-related self-management experiences among elderly workers with multiple chronic diseases. The study participants were elderly workers residing in South Korea (65 years old or older) with at least two chronic diseases. Twelve participated in individual interviews, which were audio-recorded and transcribed. Qualitative content analysis was conducted with the transcribed data. Six themes, 21 sub-themes, and 40 codes were derived. The themes were "benefit of work on health and life", "adaptation to a new work environment", "endurance", "continuous efforts to maintain health", "difficulties in self-management", and "requirements for health promotion". The participants experienced difficulties in health-related self-management due to time constraints, poor work environment, and financial burdens. However, participants expressed their desire to invest effort into managing their physical and psychological health and to work as long as possible. Programs that consider the aging and health-related characteristics of elderly workers and their work environments should be developed and implemented.

Comparison of the characteristics of work-related injuries between older workers and the workers of the conventional working-age in the Republic of Korea, 2010-2014

OBJECTIVE

With population ageing, the number of older workers is increasing and the number of work-related injuries in older people is also increasing. Occupational patterns and work-related injury patterns vary with age. This study aimed to compare the incidence and characteristics of work-related injuries in older and younger workers in Korea.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of the characteristics of workers hospitalised with work-related injuries from January 2010 to December 2014, using data from the National Hospital Discharge In-Depth Injury Survey in South Korea. The analysis was stratified by age into older (aged ≥65 years) and younger (aged 20-64 years) workers.

RESULTS

The hospitalisation rate in older workers was double that of younger workers (2014 IRR: 2.06, 95% CI 1.53 to 2.76). Compared with workers of conventional working-age, a higher proportion of injured older workers were female (33.1% vs 13.6%, p<0.001), injured due to falls (40.8% vs 28.5%) and injured while working on a farm (46.5% vs 6.3%, p<0.001). In older workers, work-related injuries were seasonal and peaked during summer, but there was little seasonality in injuries among younger workers.

CONCLUSION

Older workers are more vulnerable to work-related injuries and have a different profile of work-related injuries from younger workers. Age-related differences in the injury profile need to be considered when developing workplace injury prevention policies and programmes, and the specific vulnerabilities of older workers need to be addressed.

Considerations for physical employment standards in the aging workforce

BACKGROUND

If current population and health trends continue, workplace demographics will look significantly different by the turn of the century. Organizations will no longer have a steady pipeline of younger workers and will likely need to rely on older workers to remain competitive in the global marketplace. The future multi-generational workforce will bring with it the challenge of maximizing contributions from each generation whilst at the same time addressing the health, safety and wellbeing needs of all workers.

OBJECTIVE

This review provides an insight into aging and older workers, and presents recommendations to promote worker longevity.

METHODS

This narrative review draws on evidence from 108 published sources.

RESULTS

The relationship between age and work is not simple; factors including the physical nature of the job and worker's health and fitness interact with age to either increase or decrease the potential effect of age. Evidence suggests that the issues arising from an aging workforce can be managed through polices that focus on active aging through: attitude management; flexible working and the provision of occupational health.

CONCLUSION

The integration of such interventions would require company and organizational commitment from the top down with educational programs at all levels to ensure understanding and participation.

Age, aging and physiological dysregulation in safety-critical work: a retrospective longitudinal study of helicopter emergency medical services pilots

PURPOSE

Concurrent progressive physiological dysregulation in different organ systems may be a driver of phenotypical frailty and is associated with morbidity and performance declines. In aging societies, health and performance of older workers are given increased scrutiny. However, there are few studies researching the effect of age on physiological dysregulation specifically in the working population and none for high-risk occupations with close medical supervision. Here, we aim to investigate this association cross-sectionally and longitudinally in a healthy sample of European helicopter emergency medical services pilots.

METHODS

Using a retrospective cohort design, we constructed indices of (a) physiological dysregulation state (N = 52 participants) and (b) pace of change (N = 41 participants, average follow-up 7.9 years) based on measurements of 18 health risk-associated biomarkers, as documented in the participating pilots' aeromedical examination records. The relationship of these two indices with average age (range 27.9-60.6 years) and average baseline age (29.3-57.2 years), respectively, was modeled by weighted least squares regression, adjusting for region of origin, smoking, and medication.

RESULTS

Longitudinally, dysregulation significantly increased over the follow-up period, but the pace of change did not increase with baseline age. Cross-sectionally, we observed a significant negative quadratic effect of age on physiological dysregulation state, with maximum estimated physiological dysregulation at ages 45-50.

CONCLUSIONS

As hypothesized, progression of dysregulation over approximately 8 years is observable in a healthy occupational sample but it does not accelerate (i.e., does not increase with baseline age). Increases in dysregulation are counteracted by what appears to be a strong healthy worker survivor effect. The study shows that the development of physiological dysregulation in high-risk occupations differs from that in the general population and that physiological dysregulation indices may be helpful in reconciling safety concerns and fair treatment of aging workers in safety-critical jobs.

Extension of working life and implications for occupational health in Chile

Chile has one of the highest effective retirement ages among the countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). This could be associated with retirement at older ages, as low pensions encourage people to remain active in the workforce.People undergo several changes due to the passage of time, and they have an impact on their health from a biological, psychological and social point of view. However, there is not enough knowledge on how these changes impact and interact with working, employment and health conditions of workers as they get older.This article aims to contribute to the critical debate on the extension of working life and its implications for occupational health. Some reflections in this regard are proposed based on a review of the most recent relevant literature.

Factors influencing perceived health status among elderly workers: occupational stress, frailty, sleep quality, and motives for food choices

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate occupational stress, frailty, sleep quality, and motives for food choices as key factors affecting the perceived health status among elderly workers.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 175 participants at the Community Senior Club in an urban area. The data was collected from November to December 2018. Pearson's correlation analyses were performed for perceived health status, occupational stress, sleep quality, and motives for food choices. Multivariate linear regression was adjusted for general characteristics such as age, gender, level of education, living arrangements, and the number of illnesses.

Results

Occupational stress (r=-0.195, p<0.001), frailty (r=-0.468, p<0.001), and sleep quality scores (r=-0.306, p<0.001) showed significant negative correlations with perceived health status. Conversely, 5 motives for food choices (health, weight control, price, sensory appeal, and mood) were positively correlated with perceived health status. Linear regression analysis showed that occupational stress (β=-0.195, p<0.001), frailty (β=-0.420, p<0.001), and motives for food choices based on sensory appeal (β=0.240, p<0.001) were significant influencing factors for perceived health status.

Conclusion

We found that occupational stress, frailty, and motives for food choices based on sensory appeal were significant factors for elderly worker health. This suggests that it is important to consider occupational stress, frailty, and motivation for food choices when examining the health of elderly workers. There is a need for more tailored health promotion interventions when considering these factors and the elderly population.

Fatores associados à ótima capacidade para o trabalho em servidores idosos de uma universidade no Sul do Brasil

Resumo Objetivo: investigar a associação entre o índice de capacidade para o trabalho e os fatores sociodemográficos, ocupacionais, estilo de vida e saúde em idosos. Métodos: estudo transversal, com amostra de servidores idosos de uma instituição de ensino superior. Foram coletadas informações sociodemográficas e dados referentes a comportamento social, saúde, e trabalho. Utilizou-se análise uni e multivariada pelo Modelo de Regressão Logística para determinar os fatores associados à ótima capacidade para o trabalho. Resultados: na amostra prevaleceram os homens (57,8%), entre 60 e 64 anos (75,6%), com ensino superior (57,8%). A maioria declarou ser sedentária (89,1%) e com exigência mental de trabalho (62,8%). Mais da metade da amostra era de idosos em sobrepeso (53%), que relataram quedas (21,3%) e uso regular de múltiplos medicamentos (25,6%). As variáveis associadas à menor chance de ótima capacidade para o trabalho foram sexo feminino (OR=0,39; IC95%=0,18-0,83); cor não branca (OR=0,37; IC95%=0,16-0,84); exigência física para o trabalho (OR=0,40; IC95%=0,17-0,97); hospitalização (OR=0,14; IC95%=0,03-0,57); dificuldades no sono (OR=0,12; IC95%=0,04-0,43); autopercepção de saúde ruim (OR=0,22; IC95%=0,09-0,54); queixas de sintomas osteomusculares nos últimos 7 dias (OR=0,29, IC95%=0,10-0,87); e sintomas que comprometem o trabalho (OR=0,25; IC95%=0,08-0,82). Conclusão: fatores sociodemográficos, ocupacionais e condição de saúde comprometeram a ótima capacidade para o trabalho em idosos.

Health-Related Effects of the Elderly Care Program

Objectives

This study aimed to determine the health-related effects of elderly care through the elderly program (ECEP) compared to those who were put on standby.

Methods

Analysis was conducted concerning the demographic characteristics and chronic disease prevalence status of 108,803 ECEP participants from 2007 to 2013 and 33,932 recipients of elderly care by the elderly (ECE) in 2013. A survey was conducted to determine the effects of emotional support on 508 elders who received ECE in 2014. To determine the effect of elderly care by participation, a comparative analysis was performed using the propensity score method and a differences-in-differences model. Statistical tests were performed on these study subjects' medical expenses and utilization of medical care, while they participated in the ECEP.

Results

ECEP participants incurred a lower total medical expense increase by US$431.94, US$75.54 lower copayment, US$357.60 lower insurance payment, and US$403.04 lower hospitalization costs, compared to the elders who were on standby. Furthermore, a significant decrease was observed in the number of days of hospitalization, even in the case of medical care utilization. Those who were receiving elderly care scored an average of 7.70 points on the Short Geriatric Depression Scale. 51% of these individuals showed a significantly high level of depression, with a score of 8 points or higher, which is a criterion for screening for depression.

Conclusions

The present study showed differences in medical expenses and the utilization of medical care associated with ECEP.

Chronic Conditions, Workplace Safety, And Job Demands Contribute To Absenteeism And Job Performance

An aging workforce, increased prevalence of chronic health conditions, and the potential for longer working lives have both societal and economic implications. We analyzed the combined impact of workplace safety, employee health, and job demands (work task difficulty) on worker absence and job performance. The study sample consisted of 16,926 employees who participated in a worksite wellness program offered by a workers' compensation insurer to their employers-314 large, midsize, and small businesses in Colorado across multiple industries. We found that both workplace safety and employees' chronic health conditions contributed to absenteeism and job performance, but their impact was influenced by the physical and cognitive difficulty of the job. If employers want to reduce health-related productivity losses, they should take an integrated approach to mitigate job-related injuries, promote employee health, and improve the fit between a worker's duties and abilities.

Fatal work-related falls in the United States, 2003-2014

BACKGROUND

Falls are the second leading cause of work-related fatalities among US workers. We describe fatal work-related falls from 2003 to 2014, including demographic, work, and injury event characteristics, and changes in rates over time.

METHODS

We identified fatal falls from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries and estimated rates using the BLS Current Population Survey.

RESULTS

From 2003 to 2014, there were 8880 fatal work-related falls, at an annual rate of 5.5 per million FTE. Rates increased with age. Occupations with the highest rates included construction/extraction (42.2 per million FTE) and installation/maintenance/repair (12.5 per million FTE). Falls to a lower level represented the majority (n = 7521, 85%) compared to falls on the same level (n = 1128, 13%).

CONCLUSIONS

Falls are a persistent source of work-related fatalities. Fall prevention should continue to focus on regulation adherence, Prevention through Design, improving fall protection, training, fostering partnerships, and increasing communication.

Relating Older Workers' Injuries to the Mismatch Between Physical Ability and Job Demands

OBJECTIVE

We examined the association between job demand and occupational injury among older workers.

METHODS

Participants were workers aged 50+ enrolled in the Health and Retirement Study, 2010 to 2014. Participants reported physical ability within three domains: physical effort, stooping/kneeling/crouching, and lifting. To measure subjective job demand, participants rated their job's demands within domains. We generated objective job demand measures through the Occupational Information Network (ONET). Using Poisson regression, we modeled the association between physical ability, job demand, and self-reported occupational injury. A second model explored interaction between job demand and physical ability.

RESULTS

The injury rate was 22/1000 worker-years. Higher job demand was associated with increased injury risk. Within high job demands, lower physical ability was associated with increased injury risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Older workers whose physical abilities do not meet job demands face increased injury risk.

Injuries among electric power industry workers, 1995-2013

INTRODUCTION

Workers in the electric power industry face many risks of injury due to the high diversity of work tasks performed in potentially hazardous and unpredictable work environments.

METHOD

We calculated injury rates by age, sex, occupational group, and injury type among workers in the Electric Power Research Institute's (EPRI) Occupational Health and Safety Database (OHSD), which contains recordable injury, medical claims, and personnel data from 18 participating electric power companies from 1995 to 2013.

RESULTS

The OHSD includes a total of 63,193 injuries over 1,977,436 employee-years of follow-up, for an overall injury rate of 3.20 injuries per 100 employee-years. Annual injury rates steadily decreased from 1995 to 2000, increased sharply in 2001, and subsequently decreased to their lowest rate of 1.31 injuries per 100 employee-years in 2013. Occupations with the highest injury rates were welders (13.56 per 100 employee-years, 95% CI 12.74-14.37), meter readers (12.04 per 100 employee-years, 95% CI 11.77-12.31), and line workers (10.37 per 100 employee-years, 95% CI 10.19-10.56). Males had an overall higher injury rate compared to females (2.74 vs. 1.61 per 100 employee-years) although some occupations, such as meter reader, had higher injury rates for females. For all workers, injury rates were highest for those in the 21 to 30 age group (3.70 per 100 employee-years) and decreased with age. Welders and machinists did not follow this trend and had higher injury rates in the 65+ age group. There were 63 fatalities over the 1995 to 2013 period, with 21 fatalities (33.3%) occurring among line workers.

CONCLUSIONS

Although injury rates have decreased over time, certain high-risk groups remain (i.e., line workers, mechanics, young males, older welders and machinists, and female meter readers).

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Protective measures and targeted safety programs may be warranted to ensure the safety of electric power workers.

Does pain deteriorate working life expectancy in aging workers?

OBJECTIVES

Many aging workers wish to continue working as long as they can for a better life in the future. However, symptoms of pain are a key obstacle in the continuation of work among older workers. The impact of pain on work is understudied. Thus, we investigated the relationship between pain characteristics (total site and severity) and aging workers' working life expectancy scale (WoLES) in Korea.

METHODS

We included 1,979 participants (1,175 men and 804 women) from a well-established survey of a nationally representative population: the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing. A self-questionnaire was used to assess pain characteristics and WoLES. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the lower-WoLES group were calculated using multiple logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Compared with the absence of pain, ORs and 95% CIs of the lower-WoLES group were increased, as follows: 1 pain site, 1.75 (1.20-2.55); 2 pain sites, 1.99 (1.32-3.03); 3 or more pain sites, 2.28 (1.51-3.42); mild pain, 1.74 (1.32-2.61); moderate pain, 2.02 (1.28-3.22); and severe pain, 2.12 (1.46-3.08). The statistical trend was significant in both total sites and severity of pain (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

There was a significant association between WoLES and both total pain sites and severity of pain, even after adjusting for potential confounding factors.

Reliable and unproductive? Stereotypes of older employees in corporate and news media

Older employees face a severe employability problem, partly because of dominant stereotypes about them. This study investigates stereotypes of older employees in corporate and news media. Drawing on the Stereotype Content Model, we content analysed newspaper coverage and corporate media of 50 large-scale Dutch organisations, published between 2006 and 2013. The data revealed that stereotypical portrayals of older employees are more common in news media than in corporate media and mixed in terms of valence. Specifically, older employees were positively portrayed with regard to warmth stereotypes, such as trustworthiness, but negatively with regard to competence stereotypes, such as technological competence and adaptability. Additionally, stereotypical portrayals that do not clearly belong to warmth or competence dimensions are found, such as the mentoring role stereotype and the costly stereotype. Because competence stereotypes weigh more heavily in employers’ productivity perceptions, these media portrayals might contribute to the employability problem of older employees. We suggest that older employees could benefit from a more realistic media debate about their skills and capacities.

Age, human performance, and physical employment standards

The proportion of older workers has increased substantially in recent years, with over 25% of the Canadian labour force aged ≥55 years. Along with chronological age comes age-related declines in functional capacity associated with impairments to the cardiorespiratory and muscular systems. As a result, older workers are reported to exhibit reductions in work output and in the ability to perform and/or sustain the required effort when performing work tasks. However, research has presented some conflicting views on the consequences of aging in the workforce, as physically demanding occupations can be associated with improved or maintained physical function. Furthermore, the current methods for evaluating physical function in older workers often lack specificity and relevance to the actual work tasks, leading to an underestimation of physical capacity in the older worker. Nevertheless, industry often lacks the appropriate information and/or tools to accommodate the aging workforce, particularly in the context of physical employment standards. Ultimately, if appropriate workplace strategies and work performance standards are adopted to optimize the strengths and protect against the vulnerability of the aging workers, they can perform as effectively as their younger counterparts. Our aim in this review is to evaluate the impact of different individual (including physiological decline, chronic disease, lifestyle, and physical activity) and occupational (including shift work, sleep deprivation, and cold/heat exposure) factors on the physical decline of older workers, and therefore the risk of work-related injuries or illness.

Health Risks to Ecological Workers on Contaminated Sites - the Department of Energy as a Case Study

BACKGROUND

At most contaminated sites the risk to workers focuses on those 'hazardous waste workers' directly exposed to chemicals or radionuclides, and to the elaborate approaches implemented to protecting their health and safety. Ecological workers generally are not considered.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the risks to the health and safety of ecological workers on sites with potential chemical and radiological exposures before, during or after remediation of contamination. To use the U.S. Department of Energy as a case study, and to develop concepts that apply generally to sites contaminated with hazardous or nuclear wastes.

METHODS

Develop categories of ecological workers, describe their usual jobs, and provide information on the kinds of risks they face. Ecological activities include continued surveillance and monitoring work on any sites with residual contamination, subject to institutional controls and engineered barriers following closure as well as the restoration.

RESULTS

The categories of ecological workers and their tasks include 1) Ecological characterization, mapping and monitoring, 2) biodiversity studies, 2) Contaminant fate and transport, 3) On-going industrial activities 4) Remediation activities (environmental management), 5) Environmental restoration, 6) Post-cleanup surveillance and monitoring, and 7) Post-closure future site activities. There are a set of functional activities that can occur with different frequencies and intensities, including visual inspection, collecting biological samples, collecting media physical samples, collecting biological debris, restoration planting, and maintaining ecosystems.

CONCLUSIONS

Ecological workers face different exposures and risks than other environmental cleanup workers. Many of their tasks mimic shift work with long hours leading to fatigue, and they are exposed to biological as well as chemical/radiological hazards. DOE and other entities need to examine the risks to ecological workers on site with an eye to risk reduction.

Specialist Bibliographic Databases

Specialist bibliographic databases offer essential online tools for researchers and authors who work on specific subjects and perform comprehensive and systematic syntheses of evidence. This article presents examples of the established specialist databases, which may be of interest to those engaged in multidisciplinary science communication. Access to most specialist databases is through subscription schemes and membership in professional associations. Several aggregators of information and database vendors, such as EBSCOhost and ProQuest, facilitate advanced searches supported by specialist keyword thesauri. Searches of items through specialist databases are complementary to those through multidisciplinary research platforms, such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Familiarizing with the functional characteristics of biomedical and nonbiomedical bibliographic search tools is mandatory for researchers, authors, editors, and publishers. The database users are offered updates of the indexed journal lists, abstracts, author profiles, and links to other metadata. Editors and publishers may find particularly useful source selection criteria and apply for coverage of their peer-reviewed journals and grey literature sources. These criteria are aimed at accepting relevant sources with established editorial policies and quality controls.

Factors associated with fatal occupational accidents among Mexican workers: a national analysis

OBJECTIVE

To identify the factors associated with fatal occupational injuries in Mexico in 2012 among workers affiliated with the Mexican Social Security Institute.

METHODS

Analysis of secondary data using information from the National Occupational Risk Information System, with the consequence of the occupational injury (fatal versus non-fatal) as the response variable. The analysis included 406,222 non-fatal and 1,140 fatal injuries from 2012. The factors associated with the lethality of the injury were identified using a logistic regression model with the Firth approach.

RESULTS

Being male (OR=5.86; CI95%: 4.22-8.14), age (OR=1.04; CI95%: 1.03-1.06), employed in the position for 1 to 10 years (versus less than 1 year) (OR=1.37; CI95%: 1.15-1.63), working as a facilities or machine operator or assembler (OR: 3.28; CI95%: 2.12- 5.07) and being a worker without qualifications (OR=1.96; CI95%: 1.18-3.24) (versus an office worker) were associated with fatality in the event of an injury. Additionally, companies classified as maximum risk (OR=1.90; CI 95%: 1.38-2.62), workplace conditions (OR=7.15; CI95%: 3.63-14.10) and factors related to the work environment (OR=9.18; CI95%:4.36-19.33) were identified as risk factors for fatality in the event of an occupational injury.

CONCLUSIONS

Fatality in the event of an occupational injury is associated with factors related to sociodemographics (age, sex and occupation), the work environment and workplace conditions. Worker protection policies should be created for groups with a higher risk of fatal occupational injuries in Mexico.

Roles of age, length of service and job in work-related injury: a prospective study of 63,620 person-years in female workers

BACKGROUND

The roles of age, length of service and job in various work-related injury types are unknown and deserve investigations among female workers. This study assessed their roles in the occurrence of injury.

METHODS

Three-year prospective study of all 22,952 permanently employed women at the French national railway company: 63,620 person-years, 756 injuries with working days lost, coded using the company's injury classification derived from that of the French health insurance scheme. We investigated the incidence of four types of injury: fall on same level, fall to lower level, materials/equipment/objects handling, and other injuries. Data were analyzed using negative binomial regression.

RESULTS

Workers aged <25 were subject to a higher risk for all types of injuries. Older workers (45-55 years) were subject to a higher injury risk for fall on same level and fall to lower level. For fall on same level as for fall to lower level the relative risk decreased steadily with increasing length of service with the company, from 1.60 for 1 year to 0.50-0.60 for ≥30 years. For injuries due to materials/equipment/objects handling the relative risk decreased from 1.05 for one year to 0.49 for 5-9 years, and then increased to about 1.50 for 20-29 years and ≥30 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Younger and shorter lengths of service were at risk for various types of injuries. Higher length of service was at risk for injury due to materials/equipment/objects handling. Preventive measures should consider the respective risks associated with age, years of employment and job.

Age-related injury and compensation claim rates in heavy industry

BACKGROUND

Although ageing workers face specific health and safety concerns, conflicting evidence exists regarding the effects of age on workplace injury rates and workers' compensation claims.

AIMS

To examine injury and workers' compensation claim rates by age and injury type in an aluminium smelter over a 9-year period.

METHODS

Routinely collected data for workplace injuries and workers' compensation claims were retrieved for the period from 1997 to 2005.

RESULTS

The study included a total of 709 workers who experienced 2281 at-work injuries and submitted 446 claims. In 1997, 16% of employees were aged 50 or over; by 2005 that proportion had more than doubled to 35%. Injury and claim rates in all age groups did not change significantly during this period. Workers younger than 30 years of age had the highest injury rates, with differences most significant for injuries other than sprains and strains. Claim rates were not significantly different across age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings do not provide evidence to support the notion that older workers sustain more injuries and are more likely to claim compensation for their injuries. Our findings demonstrate that in this workplace, older workers were able to maintain their ability to work safely. This contrasts with the finding that younger workers had the highest injury and claim rates. While adapting to the needs of an ageing workforce, employers should not lose sight of the need to nurture a strong culture of working safely among their youngest workers.

The role of occupational activities and work environment in occupational injury and interplay of personal factors in various age groups among Indian and French coalminers

OBJECTIVE

The role of occupational hazards in occupational injury may be mediated by individual factors across various age groups. This study assessed the role of occupational hazards as well as contribution of individual factors to injuries among Indian and French coalminers.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We conducted a case-control study on 245 injured workers and on 330 controls without any injuries from Indian coal mines using face-to-face interviews, and a retrospective study on 516 French coalminers using a self-administered questionnaire including potential occupational and personal factors. Data were analyzed using logistic models.

RESULTS

The annual rate of injuries was 5.5% for Indian coalminers and 14.9% for the French ones. Logistic model including all occupational factors showed that major injury causes were: hand-tools, material handling, machines, and environment/work-geological/strata conditions among Indian miners (adjusted odds-ratios 2.01 to 3.30) and biomechanical exposure score among French miners (adjusted odds-ratio 3.01 for score the 1-4, 3.47 for the score 5-7, and 7.26 for score ≥ 8, vs. score 0). Personal factors among Indian and French coalminers reduced/exacerbated the roles of various occupational hazards to a different extent depending on workers' age.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that injury roles of occupational hazards were reduced or exacerbated by personal factors depending on workers' age in both populations. This knowledge is useful when designing prevention which should definitely consider workers' age.

[Perspectives of work, age, health, and labor market participation in Germany]

The German population is aging and shrinking. This will have a significant impact on the labor market, because labor supply will start to shrink. Consequently, there is a need to develop additional labor market resources. In this setting, a crucial issue is the health and employment of the older working population. This article discusses--on the basis of nine articles in this special issue--the health of the working population in the context of work, age, and labor participation. It shows the diversity of morbidity in the work force in general and particularly in older age, and it identifies older labor force groups with good health and those with bad health. The latter shows that "working while having a bad state of health" is today's reality. Labor market participation is less dependent on health than on the "work ability" and/or the "motivation to work" of older workers. The employment dynamics of an aging population will be a key issue in future political debate. A reliable knowledge base is needed for proper discussion, judgment, and action in the economic, political, and social fields. Current research is often focused on subtopics or on subgroups; however, a network of all the related scientific disciplines and the establishment of new comprehensive research approaches are needed in this area.

Elevated occupational transportation fatalities among older workers in Oregon: an empirical investigation

Older workers have an elevated risk of being killed on the job, and transportation incidents involving vehicles or mobile machinery are especially deadly for this group. The present study was designed to address the research gap in understanding contributing factors to these incidents and recommend evidence-based guidelines for interventions. We gathered and analyzed data from several sources, including the Oregon Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program, the Oregon Workers' Compensation system, the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and peer reviewed research literatures. Rates and rate ratios (RR) were used to evaluate excess risk among groups. The results of this study show that older workers in Oregon have an elevated risk of fatality both in all events (RR=3.0, 95% CI 2.2-4.0) and transportation events (RR=3.6, 95% CI 2.4-5.4). Additional analyses and extant literature supports our hypotheses that multiple risk factors contribute to the phenomenon, including (a) hazard exposure, (b) organization of work, (c) physical fragility, and (d) normative cognitive, sensory, and psychomotor changes that occur with age. The evidence-based framework proposed may provide valuable guidance for developing safety interventions that protect older workers.