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Safety tips - archives

August September

September

Respiratory system - Breathe easy
Cardiovascular respiratory function, which is associated with maximum exercise levels, declines 15 percent to 25 percent from age 20 to age 65. Oxygen consumption sharply declines after the age of 50, which makes intense physical activity more difficult for the older age group.
Tips

  • Due to reduced capacity and stress from temperature extremes, be cautious or avoid strenuous work in hot/humid environments or cold environments.
  • If environment is hot, take precautions to avoid dehydration. Drink plenty of water and other fluids that do not contain caffeine.
  • Be cautious with physically demanding work, particularly if the individual does not routinely perform such work.
  • Encourage self-paced rather than machine paced work.
  • Breaks are necessary.

Musculoskeletal back - Watch your back
With persons age 55 and over being the fastest growing work force age group (expected increase of 3.9 percent annually to 16.9 percent of the work force by 2010), this sector of the population will represent the greatest number of individuals who suffer from low back pain. Recent estimates of the total cost of low back pain are between $25 billion and $95 billion per year. While back pain is widespread, there are a few tips that can reduce the potential for developing a low back injury as well as reduce the effects of current symptoms.
Tips

  • Lift objects from waist level. Place heavier objects on shelves at or above knee height, preferably at waist height.
  • Get as close to the object as possible when lifting. Bend your legs to lift the object. Avoid twisting or bending to the side when lifting or moving.
  • Reduce the object weight as much as possible by lifting fewer items at a time. Use carts and other mechanical assist devices when possible.
  • Provide adequate rest between repetitive lifting tasks. Ensure good foot traction. (Approximately 20 percent of back injuries are due to falls/slips/trips.)
  • Avoid prolonged static postures. Position objects, controls and displays in locations that minimize prolonged flexed, bending or resting postures.

Musculoskeletal system - Bearing the weight
According to 2001 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, while back injuries account for the greatest number of occupational injuries and illnesses, upper extremity and lower extremity injuries follow closely behind. With an aging musculoskeletal system, high repetitive and sustained loading associated with prolonged standing and/or walking may detrimentally affect the health of the weight bearing joints (hip, knee and ankle). The effects of skeletal aging will be felt mainly in the knees, fingers, hips and spinal column.
Tips

  • When increased efforts are needed, use a mechanical aid or get help from other operators.
  • Organize the work station to avoid lifting or reaching above shoulder level.
  • Avoid repetitive tasks, incorporating job rotations if possible.
  • Avoid prolonged standing. If prolonged standing is necessary to the job, provide the worker with anti-fatigue mats.
  • The older worker can usually work just as fast as the younger with the proper job design, including a sufficient spacious work station so the task can be performed in alternating posture and location, tools that avoid extreme postures or having to work in a bent-over position (places extreme demand on the joints).

August

Vision care - Eye of the beholder
The reduction in visual perception, particularly near vision, can make it difficult for older workers to perform tasks at a close range. Corrective lenses may help improve near vision, but they also increase glare, which poses a problem for detecting or reacting to potential harmful events, particularly in dimly lit areas.
Tips

  • Improve contrast between objects by increasing lighting.
  • Reduce glare by using shades and awnings for windows, diffusers for light sources, indirect lighting, or a larger number of lower power and adjustable light sources.
  • Eliminate the need for workers to frequently cross from dim areas to brightly lit areas and vice versa.
  • Avoid shades of blue, blue on green or blue on black in the work environment; it’s difficult for older workers to differentiate between these colors.
  • Place signs in places that are easily seen, and avoid distractions and cluttering.

Hearing - A perfect pitch
A gradual loss of hearing is expected as we age. This loss may be imperceptible, but it does make it more challenging for older workers to discern specific sounds, such as conversations, when they are in noisy rooms. Some older workers may have more profound hearing loss, which may place them at risk if they can not hear warning devices in the workplace.
Tips

  • Minimize machine, air conditioning and other sources of background noise.
  • Use sound-absorbing construction material.
  • Avoid room designs that create echoes.

Falls - Steady as you go
Falls are more common among older workers than younger workers. This phenomenon could be caused by a loss of balance with increasing age. It also could be the result of factors in the aging process, such as osteoporosis, increased reaction time and decreased flexibility, which may make an injury from a fall more likely.
Tips

  • Avoid marble, polished wood and tile flooring.
  • Keep walkways free of obstruction.
  • Clean up spills and keep floors in good repair.
  • Use absorbent material to reduce slipping.
  • Avoid devices that obstruct visual fields (e.g. certain styles of respirators, hats, protective eye wear).
  • Stairs
    • Use high-color contrast between risers and treads, particularly at landings.
    • Provide lighting and hand rails.
    • Keep risers low and use non-slip surfaces on treads.


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