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With the rapidly growing number of older U.S. workers, employers need to re-think their safety programs to reduce and eliminate workplace injuries. They are required to provide a safe work environment for all workers regardless of age and are governed by workers’ compensation laws. They also may be accountable in personal injury law suits.

The steps employers need to take include having equipment in good working order, training employees to do their jobs, having well-communicated safe work procedures, providing low chemical and hazard exposure, providing supportive management styles that allow for open communication of unsafe conditions or practices, conducting frequent risk assessments, having assessments which take into consideration the broad age span of the rapidly changing workforce.

Ergonomic adaptations of the work environment such as height-adjustable work surfaces, anti-fatigue mats for workers who stand, and re-designing workflow and job function to reduce repetitive motion can all help reduce injuries.

To enhance the health of the workforce as well as performance, employers can provide sponsored health and wellness programs.

Nearly one third of America’s workforce is now over 50, and according to NBC News employees over the age of 65 now outnumber teenage workers for the first time since 1948.

This older workforce has a lot to offer employers not the least of which is high patience and tolerance and greater job satisfaction. It has been shown they also have a lower number of unscheduled absences and lower turnover rates than their younger associates. The experience and knowledge they bring to the job are assets for the business.

What has caused the increase in older workers?

The “baby boom” generation (those born between 1946 and 1964) produced the increase in older workers. The succeeding generation, Generation X, is 30 percent smaller than the baby boom generation. By 2020 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers age 55 and older will account for 25 percent of the workforce.

Medical advances have also allowed people to stay active and live longer, and financial considerations also play a role in the increase of older workers.

In a 2013 Stanford Center for Longevity report, researchers said that only 19 percent of those over 50 still working reported they worked primarily for non-financial reasons such as the enjoyment of the work or the desire to be productive.

Safety and Health Magazine reported that the incident rate of slips, trips and falls for workers 65 and older was 49.5 per 10,000 workers. This rate is about double that of workers younger than 45. Generally, however, OSHA’s (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) studies show that older workers have few injuries, but when injured, the injures tend to be more severe and involve a longer recovery time.

“Employees, regardless of age, who are injured while working, should contact our team of experienced attorneys to assess whether, in addition to workers’ compensation, they may have a personal injury case,” said Fort Myers Personal Injury Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Fort Myers Personal Injury Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.