Findings from recent studies suggest age is not strongly associated with increased injury rates but is associated with longer return to work time once injured. Workplaces should consider strategies for healthy ageing to address an ageing workforce.
Take-home messages:
- Older workers are not, on average, at greater risk of work-related injuries than their younger counterparts. However, if they do get hurt on the job, older workers tend, on average, to take longer to return to work.
- Longer post-injury absences are not explained by older workers having more severe injuries or certain types of injuries, or by their working in more physically demanding jobs.
- Longer absences post-injury are explained in part by the greater likelihood of older workers having pre-existing chronic conditions.
- Workplace factors may explain the longer absences, including ageism.
Learning Outcomes
About the research on associations between age and work-related injuries as well as recovery from injury
That research points to programs and policies that are flexible in providing accommodation as needed and that support autonomy among workers
How the WHO World Report on Ageing and Health can provide guidance for workplaces