As this number increases , more and more older people will make up the UK ’ s workforce . In 2008 , there were 3.2 people of working age for every person over 65 . This ratio is predicted to fall to 2.8 by 2033 , meaning that the ageing workforce is only going to get larger . Many employers see an older workforce as a benefit to their organisations , bringing years of experience |
and skills to a role . However , the growth in the UK ’ s ageing workforce may bring challenges for employers too , which they should be aware of and ready to respond to . One of these is work-related musculoskeletal disorders , or MSDs . MSDs are conditions that can affect muscles , tendons , and ligaments , and are often caused by over-exertion or repetitive motion . MSDs can often be serious enough |
to prevent people from working – they are actually one of the most common reasons for people taking long-term sickness absence in the UK . Older people can be more susceptible to work-related MSDs . Lifting heavy objects or participating in strenuous activities can become more difficult , bones are more susceptible to breaking and we get tired more easily . This clearly has health and safety implications for |
workplaces , meaning that employers need to be aware of the potential risks and develop strategies to help prevent these . Employers can carry out a risk assessment on their workplace to identify any potential risks . Some changes which employers can make to help accommodate ageing staff members who may be more susceptible to MSDs are fairly straightforward , such as investing in more ergonomically-friendly workstations , |
or adjusting the layout of the workplace to reduce strain on older workers . However , some changes may present more of a challenge . As staff get older , it may mean that their job roles need to change . For example , if an older worker is using manual tools regularly , they may be more at risk of developing an MSD such as back pain , and as such this activity may need to be reduced or eliminated |
entirely from their job role . Of course , the fitness of older workers can differ between people – some older people may have less difficulty continuing in certain job roles than others , and as such each older worker should be treated on a caseby-case basis .
Visit fitforwork . org / employer or call 0800 032 6235 ( 0800 019 2211 for those in Scotland ).
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