Workplace Accidents And Older Adults

By Author: arizonaima
Total Articles: 5
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Many older adults are now working, despite having reached retirement age. This presents a unique challenge for them because the body weakens and cannot perform tasks as vigorously as before, with age.

Older employees, who get hurt while working, often suffer more serious harm, and require a longer recovery period, compared to their younger counterparts. Chronic diseases like diabetes or arthritis also interfere with the healing process, and medical costs with their workplace injury claims are usually higher because of pre-existing health issues. Here are the common causes that contribute to the higher likelihood of older adults suffering from workplace injuries.

Loss of Muscle Strength
With age, muscle strength reduces, leaving our lower bodies susceptible to slips and falls. Injuries from slip and fall accidents take longer to heal in elderly workers since the body’s natural healing ability also takes a hit, as we age. Falls from ladders, and other situations requiring balance and height, pose a higher risk for serious, sometimes fatal, injuries for working older adults.

Loss of Hearing and Vision
...
... Aging also affects our hearing and vision. This may cause elderly employees to lose awareness of the surroundings. For example, they may not see a forklift when walking around blind corners and intersections.

Older workers suffer more injuries involving the knee, the lower back, and the rotator cuff in the shoulder. Falls are the top risk for this working age group and these accidents are often debilitating and require longer recovery times.

Additional Findings
Employing senior workers brings a great deal of experience and wisdom to any organization, but the risk of severe injuries is higher among this age group. In addition to higher rates of accidents resulting in fatalities, there are other important factors to keep in mind when working with this generation of employees.

According to CDC’s report on Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Among Older Workers, there are some other factors to consider when evaluating the impact of workplace injuries on older workers and workers’ compensation –

• Older workers had a high rate of falls, resulting in fractures and hip injuries.
• Older (55 years and above) workers made up 19% of the nation’s workforce and constituted nearly 17% of workers’ compensation injuries.
• Workers, aged 65+, took almost two weeks off from work to recuperate from an injury they received in the workplace.
• Rates for fractures and multiple injuries were high for older worker age groups compared with rates for all workers.

To consult the best workers’ compensation and accident and injury chiropractic in Phoenix, AZ, call Arizona Injury Medical Associates at 480-347-0941. Workers’ comp doctors will not only help you recover from your workplace injury or illness but also help you with the necessary case documentation you need to file your claim.