Figures published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has shown the proportion of fatal injuries to workers over the age of 60 is the highest it has been in over a decade. This highlighting the urgent need for greater workplace precautions to protect older workers.
Nearly 40% of fatal injuries in 2017/18, up from approximately 25% last year, were to workers aged 60 and over. This is despite the age bracket making up just 10% of the national workforce. This means there were 55 older-worker deaths, more than one a week on average.
The statistics show how the rate of fatal injury increases with age, with workers aged 60-64 having a rate more than double the all ages rate, and workers aged 65 and over having a rate around five times greater than the all ages rate.
Richard Jones, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) stated that our working lives are getting longer and older workers are an important resource to provide invaluable expertise and experience. Hazardous industries such as agriculture and construction have an ageing work force, with many of them self employed, and many experiencing economic pressures.
He continued "sadly, the statistics released yesterday by the HSE paint a worrying picture of how many workers across the country are still facing risks in the workplace and having their lives tragically cut short".
"Good occupational safety and health management helps ensure that all workers, young and old, can fulfil their potential at work and come home safe".
The HSE suggest today's workforce are likely to contain a higher proportion of older workers because of factors such as increased life expectancy, removal of the default retirement age and raising of the State Pension Age, which means that many people will need, and want to continue working.
While older workers are less likely than younger workers to have occupational accidents, accidents involving older workers are more likely to result in more serious injuries, permanent disabilities or death.
As a result IOSH, through its support for the EU-OSHA campaign on 'healthy workplaces for all ages' has encouraged greater preventative measures to be taken to protect older workers.
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