This document discusses effective health and safety strategies for an aging workforce in New Zealand. It notes that over 1 million New Zealanders are aged 55+ and nearly half of them work. As the population continues to age, employers will need to prepare for an older workforce. The document recommends that employers understand the specific needs of older workers, develop age-based risk assessments to account for common health issues, and provide tailored training, support programs and flexible work arrangements. The key messages are to identify the needs of the aging workforce, develop a risk strategy based on those needs, and provide relevant health and safety information.

1. Effective health and safety
strategies for an aging
workforce
OHSIG Conference 2014
Brent Sutton
10th Sept 2014

2. This session will cover
2
• The facts of New Zealand’s workforce aging
and what it means
• Preparing for an older workforce
• What you can do to manage an older
workforce

3. The facts of workforce aging and
what it means
• 1.1 million kiwis are aged 55+ (26%) 1
• 485,600 people aged 55+ work (44%)1
• By 2036 this will reach 1.7 million1
• Most kiwis expect to stay in full time
employment past retirement age1
1Statistics NZ’s Survey of Working Life - 2012
3

4. The facts of workforce aging and
what it means
• Workers 45+:
• Are over-represented in injury statistics2:
o 90% of fatalities
o 45% of new claims
o 25% higher claims cost than under 25 workers
• Receive less training than younger workers1
• Have higher anxiety over job security1
2ACC Workers Account – 2013/2014
4

5. The facts of workforce aging and
what it means
• More prone to health issues:3
• Long-term illness increases exponentially with
age
• Physical capabilities decline with age
• No clear link between productivity/performance
and age or changes in physical/mental capacity
3EEO Trust - Health, physical and mental capacity, and
older workers’ productivity and performance
5

6. The facts of workforce aging and
what it means
• Known health issues:4
• High blood pressure affects 15% adults
o This doubles every 10 years after 45
• High cholesterol medication is taken by 8% of
adults
o This doubles at 45 and 55 and then levels out
• Ischaemic heart disease affects 5% of adults
o This doubles every 10 years from the age of 45
• Diabetes affects 5% of adults
o This doubles every 10 years from the age of 35 to 65
4Ministry of Health: A Portrait of Health: Key results of
the 2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey
6

7. The facts of workforce aging and
what it means
• Known health issues:4
• Arthritis affects 15% of adults
o Increases by 40% every 10 years from the age of 35 to 65
• Chronic pain affects 17% of adults
o Doubles between the ages of 35 to 65
• Mood disorders affects 10% of adults (depression,
bipolar disorder and other mental health issues)
o Women aged 25-44 years and 65-74 years, men peak 55-
64 years
4Ministry of Health: A Portrait of Health: Key results of the
2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey
7

8. Where we are now
• Employers perceive older workers as5:
• more experienced and reliable
• less technology savvy and resistant to change
• more prone to health issues
5OCG Coming of Age Paper – 2013
8

9. A strategy to prepare for an older
workforce
1. Understand the needs of your aging
workforce
2. Employer perceptions
3. Employee fears and concerns
3OCG Coming of Age Paper – 2013
9

10. What you can do
Understand the needs of this group, such as:
• Flexible working hours
• Phased retirement planning
• Training methods
• Retention and development opportunities
• How to value their knowledge and expertise
10

11. What you can do
Develop age based risk assessments, to
include:
• The changing physical and cognitive abilities
of older workers
• The impact of common health issues for
roles, tasks and activities
• The impact of treatments and medications
• How to assess skills vs. experience and
knowledge
11

12. Improving your management of older
workers
• ‘Fit for work’ education about the issues of aging
• Make it simple for people to get advice on
treatment and management of conditions
• Provide:
• Regular physical and medical assessments
• Tailored return to work programmes which keep
people connected and integrated during longer
recovery periods
• Have providers who can support your
employees if issues arise with health monitoring
12

13. Improving your management of older
workers
• Your workplace training should:
• Ask what is already known
• Only give three new pieces of knowledge or
understanding
• Check for understanding of content
• Train your supervisors and managers in:
• How to enquire what is already known
• How to observe and assess safety behaviours
• How to provide effective feedback.
• When investigating incidents look further into
contributing factors (root causes not always clear) or
look for patterns of occurrence.
13

14. 3 key messages to take away
1. Spend time to identify the needs of your
workforce
2. Develop a age related risk strategy from
these needs
3. Build specific health and safety information
for the older workforce
14

15. www.workbase.org.nz
15
bsutton@workbase.org.nz