79% of Baby Boomers say they dont plan on fully retiring at age 65.

By 2020, 25 million Baby Boomers, about 40% of the U.S. labor force, will be exiting.

About 720,000 people in the U.S have heart attacks each year. Most of these are 45 years of age and over4.

1 in 4 people between 45 and 60 years of age provide active day-to-day support to their parents. They are oen confronted with inflexible work hours3.

Poor Economy (25%) Cant aord to retire (18%) Healthcare Cost (12%) Higher Cost of Living (9%)

By 2020, 25% of the workforce will be 55 and older and 17%

will be 65 and older2.

64% of workers say they have seen or experienced age discrimination in the workplace.58% of adults believe agediscrimination begins among workers in their 50s.

ACT NOW!

Transfer knowledge and experience to the next generation

Recruit and re-skill aging workers and retirees for new roles and new fields

Increase retention by closing skills gap

Combine strategies (initiatives) to maximize results

THERE IS AN URGENCY TO:

Invest in ergonomics workcenters & appropriate training for aging workers

Ergonomics and the Aging Workforce

The aging workforce presents a challenge to industryto design a safe and productive work environment to accomodate older workers.

Following the 5 ergonomics principles will significantly reduce ergonomic risk factors that contribute to musculoskeletal injuries and disorders (MSDs).7

Ergonomicsis about fitting the work

to the worker

was the AVERAGEtime away fromwork due to anMSD in 2013

The financial cost of Work-Related MSDs

MSD by Gender

59% 41%MSD FACTS

Lost Time from MSD by Age Group6

MSD Cases by Body Parts & Average Recovery Time

Shoulder

13%21 days

42%7days

5%20 days

5%18 days

6%17 days

11%15 days

5%12 days

Back Abdomen Arm Wrist Leg Multiple 34% of lost workdays $20 billion a year on direct costs $1 out of every $3 spent on workers compensation

physiological

psychosocial

physical

79%18%

25%

12% 9%25%

2020 2020Reasons for potponingretirement

BabyBoomers

17%

Workforce Demographics are Changing. Are you Ready?

10,000 people are turning 65 every single day and this will continue through 2030!1

Shifting Demographics

issues faced by older workers

CHARACTERISTICS OF AN AGING WORKFORCE

5 ergonomics principles for an aging workforce

40%

720,000

increased disparity in health

increased discrimination

challenging workplace condition

64% 58% 45-

60

Decreased strength, flexibility, and balance Decreased vision and hearing Decreased reaction time and speed Decreased manual dexterity and feedback Increased body fat

Decreased oxygen intake Rising systemic blood pressure Faster onset of fatigue Greater susceptibility to extreme temperatures5

Working with the body in a neutral position reduces stress and strain on your musculoskeletal system.

The power zone is also referred to as the hand shake zonethis is an easy way to remember the optimal location to perform work.

A common issue with older workers is lighting. Visual acuity deteriorates with age, so make sure work areas are properly lit.

Providing power grips instead of pinch grips for jobs and tasks is another ergonomics low hanging fruit to help accommodate aging workers.

Working in the same posture or sitting for prolonged periods of time is bad for you. Your bodys musculoskeletal (or movement) system is designed to move. Arrange workstations and tasks to allow for changing postures.

Dierent shi preferences Dierent training and learning styles Tend to experience disfranchisement with their work and coworkers

RESOURCES:1. http://pewresearch.org/daily-number/baby-boomers-retire/2. http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2012/01/art3full.pdf3. Report of the Taskforce on the Aging of the American Workforce website. http://www.aging.senate.gov/letters/agingworkforcetaskforcereport.pdf

IMPROVE WORKPLACE DESIGN WITH ERGONOMICS

Solution?

The characteristics of aging workers

oen put them at a higher risk of

developing MSD and other injuries

MOVING FORWARD

The gradual approach will not make a large enough impact with current time constraints.

50-70 127

145

144

109

37-49

26-36

16-25

4. http://newsroom.heart.org/news/heart-disease-and-stroke-continue-to-threaten-u-s-health5. http://www.asse.org/professionalsafety/docs/F1Perry_0410.pdf6. http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/osh2.pdf7. http://ergo-plus.com/ergonomics-aging-workforce-design/

Provide good lighting

Have a good grip

Allow for Posture Changes

Work in Neutral Postures

Work from the Power Zone

2014 Workrite Ergonomics. All Rights Reserved. For more information contact us at workriteergo.com or 800.959.9675