A helping hand for older workers Author: Joanne Crawford

The Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors has welcomed the Government proposal to stop forcing people to retire at the age of 65, from October 2011.

To enable older workers to function effectively, it's vital to understand how they work, both physiologically and psychologically. Although we change as we age, these can be improved by increased physical and mental activity and improving lifestyle factors such as reducing obesity and stopping smoking. Ergonomics can help older workers stay at work by improving workplace and environmental design, job design, task design and minimising the physical and mental risks to older workers. By ensuring that work is designed to fit the employee and their physical and mental capabilities, age should not be a barrier to continued working.

In an evidence review* carried out by ergonomists, it was identified that older people can be more accurate and have increased accumulated knowledge and experience to draw on. Although reaction time may slow slightly this is unlikely to impact on general working life. Age-related physiological change can be more significant but workplace design can support continued working by putting additional support mechanisms in place. Work and work equipment can also be designed to reduce the need for extreme physical exertion. Any risk to individuals from heavy lifting should be reduced by the manual handling legislation applicable all employees.

Ergonomists have a large role to play in this area in relation to both physical and mental workload. Ergonomics is key in developing good workplace design, environmental design and work organisation. The issue of maintaining a healthy older workforce is also related to other fields including public health, occupational health, rehabilitation, safety, social policy and occupational and health psychology. By working together we can hopefully achieve a safe and healthy environment for those 65 and over.

IEHF Registered Member Joanne Crawford has set up a Special Interest Group on Ageing and Work to highlight the role of ergonomics in this area and to bring interested parties together from within the ergonomics community and outside. More information about this group will be available soon.

*The health, safety and health promotion needs of older workers, report submitted by the Institute of Occupational Medicine to the IOSH Research Committee in 2009.