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Safety concerns for an aging workforce

Lab Safety Advisor, May 22, 2007

It is estimated that by 2014, the 55 and older age group will make up 21% of the workforce. With fewer employees to take their places, more workers are working past the usual age of retirement. Sometimes it is a matter of finances that keep employees at the bench.

To accommodate changing workforce dynamics, laboratories should design a safe workplace for the aging workers by improving illumination, adding color contrast, eliminating heavy lifting, designing floors with some cushioning, removing clutter, using large video displays with large fonts, and reducing noise levels.

At the age of 50, workers need two to three times the amount of light in work spaces compared to 25-year-olds.

Elimination of glare helps as does consistent, even light levels. Skid-resistant floors are helpful as are frequent breaks, which allow aging workers more time to recover and to re-hydrate.

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