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Outcomes in work‐related injuries: A comparison of older and younger workers
Author(s) -
Pransky Glenn S.,
Benjamin Katy L.,
Savageau Judith A.,
Currivan Douglas,
Fletcher Kenneth
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.20122
Subject(s) - medicine , occupational safety and health , workforce , occupational injury , injury prevention , human factors and ergonomics , poison control , suicide prevention , aging in the american workforce , gerontology , environmental health , pathology , economics , economic growth
Background The “graying of the workforce” has generated concerns about the physical capacity of older workers to maintain their health and productivity on the job, especially after an injury occurs. There is little detailed research on age‐related differences in work outcomes after an occupational injury. Methods A self‐report survey about occupational, health, and financial outcomes, and related factors was administered 2–8 weeks post‐injury to workers aged < 55 and ≥ 55 who had lost time due to a work injury. Results Despite more severe injuries in older workers, most outcomes were similar in both age groups. In multivariate models, age was unrelated or inversely related to poor outcomes. Injury severity, physical functioning, and problems upon return to work were associated with adverse work injury outcomes. Conclusions Older workers appear to fare better than younger workers after a work injury; their relative advantage may be primarily due to longer workplace attachment and the healthy worker effect. Am. J. Ind. Med. 47:104–112, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.