Injury prevention in an aging workforce - F Drennan, D Richey -Professional Safety - Sep 03.PDF

The US is in the middle of a workers compensation and healthcare crisis. If it were not for Sept 11 and its aftermath, the crisis would likely be on the front page of every newspaper. More than 40 million Americans are without health insurance. The impact of the unhealthy lifestyles and natural aging of 80 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964 must not be underestimated. Businesses and American society cannot continue to ignore the costs of this crisis; it will affect everyone. Efforts to persuade individuals to adopt healthier lifestyles have largely failed due to great societal pressure. Long commutes, long work hours, convenience of fast food, single parents trying to make ends meet, living alone and lack of social support all contribute to poor eating and exercise habits. Given the right environment, the workplace is the perfect place to acquire positive lifestyle change. People spend half of their waking lives there, and for many, the workplace is the most relevant community in which they participate. WITH BABY BOOMERS entering their 50s, employers are feeling the impact of an aging workforce. According to the Surgeon General, 60 percent of adults are overweight and out of shape (Satcher). This is a major cause for concern, not only because it affects general health and healthcare costs, but because it can lead to cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) to the back, knees, shoulders and neck. These injuries make up half of all workers' compensation (WC) costs (BLS; University of Maryland). Yet, general fitness-the ability to perform everyday tasks without excess fatigue or injury-is rarely a part of an injury prevention program. Never has there been a greater need to help workers improve their fitness and adopt healthier lifestyles. Anyone who has ever tried to maintain a fitness routine or stick to a diet knows that the need for better fitness does not necessarily translate to accomplishment. This article clarifies the need to integrate personal fitness into worksite safety leadership programs; defines the key features and strategies of effective integrated programs; and presents case studies where integrated fitness and safety leadership have reduced musculoskeletal injuries, reduced WC costs and created a culture supportive of world-class safety systems. What Is the Impact of the Aging Workforce? In America, a person turns 50 every eight seconds. Those 50 or older comprise 52 percent of the workforce today, and 75 out of every 100 will remain in the workforce until they are at least 65 (Winger). These numbers will have a major impact on employer healthcare costs. American businesses spent half a trillion dollars on healthcare and WC last year, mostly due to illnesses that are the result of unhealthy lifestyles, such as smoking, excess weight, lack of exercise and poor nutrition. In 2001, "preventable" WC and healthcare costs exceeded six times the profit of the top 10 U.S. corporations. Diseases controllable by lifestyle cost the U.S. $400 billion in healthcare annually; and in WC, CTDs alone exceed $65 billion ("Top Ten Companies"). Never has the case been more justified to integrate fitness into the daily worksite safety culture.