With more people delaying retirement, the nation’s workforce is aging. Workplace safety measures must adapt to accommodate people of all ages. It’s critical to address occupational health in Wichita, KS, with older workers in mind. These populations are incredibly valuable but more vulnerable to injury or strain that can disrupt their lives and your company’s productivity.
Working with an injury prevention firm can help you design custom solutions tailored to your workflow, employees’ needs, and space constraints. There are several key factors to consider when designing a safe and healthy workplace to foster comfort and productivity in aging employees.
Ergonomics Are Key to Safe Workplaces
The growth in aging workforces across the country has revealed a pressing need for improved workplace design, which begins with ergonomics. These are methods of designing tasks and equipment around the user’s needs. A few areas to consider ergonomics are:
- Adjustable furniture: Choose office furniture and monitors that adjust to the user’s abilities and specifications. Provide additional support for individuals with physical limitations to accommodate specific needs, such as extra back support or desk modifications.
- Conduct risk assessments: Provide annual exams for older workers to identify underlying musculoskeletal issues before they escalate and take appropriate action to adjust ergonomics.
- Prevent slips and falls: Since slips and falls can lead to more severe injuries in an aging workplace, it is crucial to regularly assess potential risks, such as slippery floors or obstructions, to prevent injuries.
- Provide designated break areas: These areas are designed for comfortable rest to help reduce fatigue and may be especially vital for individuals with chronic pain.
These adjustments keep your employees safe, healthy, and comfortable at work. When you support your employees, they’re less likely to burn out or require extensive time off due to significant injuries. The result is a more productive workforce and happier employees.
Apply Workplace Modifications To Meet Access Needs
Simple accommodations in your daily operations make the job more accessible to an aging workforce. These include flexible work schedules that allow work-from-home or part-time employment, catering to varying energy levels and physical capacities.
Employers should also consider job rotation and task sharing to provide variety and reduce the risk of overexertion or injury due to repetitive motions.
Additionally, assistive devices can make daily operations more comfortable. Provide items such as handrails and magnifiers where necessary to support all access needs. These enable individuals with limited mobility or other conditions, such as poor eyesight, to complete tasks safely and comfortably, allowing your most experienced employees to continue performing well.
Of course, the best workplace modification you can provide to an aging population is a robust healthcare policy with adequate wellness benefits. These policies provide support for the inevitable health concerns that accompany aging, giving employees peace of mind that their medical needs will be met as they age.
Safety Training Aids in Injury Prevention
As with workers of all ages, providing consistent workplace safety training to aging employees is vital. The core initiatives of any safety training should be:
- Situational awareness: Inform your employees about workplace hazards and emergency procedures, and follow up on this training regularly to keep pertinent information fresh in their minds. If state or local regulations change, you will need to provide additional emergency procedure training.
- Task safety: Train employees on the safe operation of the equipment they use regularly and repeat the training at least annually. Additional training is necessary whenever you add new equipment or change procedures.
- Offer wellness programs: Foster healthy habits by providing educational programs that inform employees about nutrition, fitness, and mental health.
Staying consistent with safety training helps prevent injuries and encourages employees to take protective measures in and out of the workplace. These training sessions should involve active participation and benchmark testing to ensure employees comprehend all the information.
Consult WorkSafe About Aging Workforce Safety
Understanding the importance of workplace safety is crucial for fostering a healthy and productive workforce as your employees age. Older workers may require improved ergonomics and other workplace modifications to ensure their safety and comfort throughout daily tasks. These accommodations support employees and benefit employers by encouraging retention, making workplace safety measures a win-win.
Consult WorkSafe to find support for managing and preventing employee injuries. Our experienced team will help you customize your workplace to meet the specific needs of your employees while improving retention and productivity in an aging workforce. Contact us online or call 316-262-8800 to start improving your workplace today.