Health and Safety Needs of Older Workers

Mirroring a worldwide phenomenon in industrialized nations, the U.S. is experiencing a change in its demographic structure known as population aging. Concern about the aging population tends to focus on the adequacy of Medicare and Social Security, retirement of older Americans, and the need to identify policies, programs, and strategies that address the health and safety needs of older workers.

Older workers differ from their younger counterparts in a variety of physical, psychological, and social factors. Evaluating the extent, causes, and effects of these factors and improving the research and data systems necessary to address the health and safety needs of older workers may significantly impact both their ability to remain in the workforce and their well being in retirement.

Health and Safety Needs of Older Workers provides an image of what is currently known about the health and safety needs of older workers and the research needed to encourage social polices that guarantee older workers a meaningful share of the nation’s work opportunities.

• Front Matter
• Executive Summary
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Demographic Characteristics of the Older Workforce
• 3 The Role of the Changing Labor Market and the Changing Nature of Work in Older Workers' Work Experiences and Health Outcomes
• 4 The Social and Economic Context of Work for Older Persons
• 5 Physical and Cognitive Differences Between Older and Younger Workers
• 6 Effects of Workplace Exposures on Older Workers
• 7 Programs and Policies Related to the Older Workforce and Safe Work
• 8 Interventions for Older Workers
• 9 Conclusions and Recommendations
• References
• Appendix A Epidemiological and Demographic Tables
• Appendix B Estimated Survival Functions for Men and Women
• Appendix C Biographical Sketches of Committee Members and Staff
• Index