the work environment. designing the age friendly workplace2 key points the work environment the...

Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

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The Work Environment


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Key PointsThe Work Environment

• The spaces where we work affect us throughout our lives

• We have control over the degree to which workplaces and job processes promote safe & productive work

• We can promote healthy aging by designing age friendly workplaces


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How This Presentation Will Work

• We’ll introduce you to some principles to help you design and modify your workplace

• Three workplace issues will serve as examplesPhysical Demands Lighting Cognitive

Demands

• We’ll consider how each issue is an aging issue• We will discuss what level of control you have in

each instance and what you can do


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Guiding PrinciplesWorkplace Design and Tool Selection

1. Smart design is the most effective way to ensure safety, health and job performance

2. Match the physical and cognitive demands of work with the physical and cognitive abilities of the workforce(Fit the work to the worker)


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Fitting the Work to the WorkerUniversal Design

• Fitting Work to the Worker– Simple, fair and flexible in use– Easy to see and understand– Tolerance for error

Source: Modified from the Principles of Universal Design


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Physical Demands of Work Ergonomics


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Physical Demands of WorkIn Relation to Safety & Job Performance…

• Lifting, pushing, pulling, bending and reaching are sometimes seen as “just part of the job”

• We can design work to reduce the constant toll on our joints and muscles

• Pushing the body to its physical limits can lead to injury

• Injuries lead to absenteeism, presenteeism and decreased productivity


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Physical Demands of WorkAn Aging Issue

• Our bodies change as we age• Skeletal muscles and connective tissue

undergo natural physiological changes–Muscle fibers decrease in size and number–Water content decreases in tendons &

ligaments, making tissue more brittle– Joint cartilage wears down, increasing

likelihood of certain injuries (e.g. rotator cuff)


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• All things being equal, balance decreases with age– Changes in our

vision and “peripheral sensation”

• Reaction time increases with age


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Physical Demands of WorkWork Days Missed Due to Workplace Injury, 2004

0 5 10 15 20

14-15

16-19

20-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65+

Ag

e G

rou

p

Median Days Away from WorkSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor

Statistics


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Physical Demands of WorkWorkplace Fatalities and Age

1.12.2

3.2 3.3 4 45

11.5

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16-1718-1920-2425-3435-4445-5455-64>64

Age

Rate per 100,000 workers

Source: NIOSH Worker Health Chartbook, 2004, p 264


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0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Incidents per 100 FTE

15-17 18-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70+ Total:

Age Group

Physical Demands - An Aging IssueOccupational Injuries Treated in Hospital ER’s, 1999

Source: Work-Related Injury Statistics Query System (http://www2.cdc.gov/risqs/default.asp)


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• Strength peaks at about 20-30 years of age– 20-30 year olds may overestimate their abilities

• Endurance declines with age– Can be maintained or improved with exercise– Endurance is affected by factors other than age…

• Our physical abilities change as we age• Physical abilities vary from person to person• How do you prepare for a workforce with

diverse abilities?…


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Physical Demands of WorkHow to Prepare for a Aging Workforce

• Reduce the physical demands of work• To prevent injuries and increase

efficiency in workers of all ages…– Priority: Reduce reaching by positioning

the task as close to the worker as possible – Develop a “zero lift” policy (may take a

while)– Organize work with good work/rest cycles– Practice good housekeeping– Avoid uneven surfaces


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• Technology is everybody’s friend…–Mechanical lifts–Mobile lifts–Mobile work platforms–Height-adjustable tables– Rotating cabin forklifts


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• Ways to reduce risks of slips/trips/falls– Slip resistant material on floors– Hand rails– Color contrast on uneven surfaces– Shallow stairwells as opposed to ladders


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Physical Demands of Work

• A Few More Ideas…


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Lighting & VisionJob Performance

• Vision is critical for…– Reading work-related

documents– Interpreting signage– Seeing and reacting

to safety hazards– Balance– Others?


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Lighting & VisionAn Aging Issue

• Age-related vision impairment starts at about 40 years of age

• Physiological changes:– The lens yellows and

becomes more brittle– The muscles that

focus the lens become weaker and less responsive


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• Functional changes:–Near-sightedness or far-sightedness– Restricted depth perception– Restricted field of vision– Slowed adaptation to changes in light– Increased sensitivity to bright lights

and glare– Decreased sensitivity to contrast


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• Are older workers the only ones who might have trouble seeing?– One study estimated

25% of children aged 6-18 wear glasses or contact lenses

Source: Kemper A, et al.Optom Vis Sci. 2004 January ; 81(1): 7–10


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Lighting & VisionDesign for Everyone…

• Provide lighting levels appropriate to the task

• Provide more individual control over lighting levels

• Eliminate glare• Increase contrast

Dark letters on a dark background

POOR

Light letters on a dark background

GOOD

Dark letters on a light background

GOOD


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Lighting & VisionDesigning an Age Friendly Workplace

• Signs should be designed to be as clear and easy to read as possible– Clearview Hwy Font

• Avoid visual “clutter”– Computer screens– Consult with drivers

before adding new gauges and monitors to dashboards


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Cognitive Demands of Work


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Aging Badly and Aging Well…A Discussion


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Aging and CognitionWorking Memory

• a.k.a. short-term memory

• Recalling information quickly

• Our ability to quickly understand and process new information declines with age


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Aging and CognitionLong-Term Memory

• Our long-term memory tends to be unaffected by age

• Meanings of words are retained

• “Procedural memory” is maintained

• Job competence increases over time


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CognitionAn Aging Issue

• When we’re young, our minds are adaptable and can process information quickly… but we don’t know much

• When we’re older, we need more time to think and learn… but we can see the big picture

• There does not appear to be a relationship between job performance and age

• Our age affects how we work


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CognitionWhat To Do

• Education & Training– Give it time to sink in– Use familiar language– With computer

training, use text, audio narration & pictures

– Provide job support aides (“cheat sheets”)

• Equipment design– Similar equipment

should work in similar ways


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CognitionWhat To Avoid

• Too much information

• Distractions• Introducing new

processes too quickly


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Key Points ReviewThe Work Environment

• The spaces where we work affect us throughout our lives

• We have control over how work spaces and job processes are designedPhysical Demands Lighting Cognitive Demands

• We can promote healthy aging by designing age friendly workplaces


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Time for a Break…


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The Aging WorkforceWhat To Do1

1. Identify your priorities2. Create a plan to address your priorities3. Implement your plan and build on it

1 Planning approach adapted from “The Breakthrough Strategy,” developed by Robert Schaeffer


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• What Is Your Priority?–What’s important for the future of your

organization?–What will people in your organization

really care about?

Example: Preventing fall-related injuries

1. Identify a Work Environment PriorityWhat Will Make a Difference for You?


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• How will you measure “success”? ________– Pick a good way to measure your top priority–How much will you change? ________–Hint: Start small to generate momentum

• We will measure the number of fall-related injuries using OSHA 300 logs

• Our goal: A 15% reduction over the next quarter

2. Create a PlanHow Do You Achieve Your Objectives?


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• Do you have a baseline?• Who is accountable?– Who will be the champion?– Will this be a team effort? If so, who will help?

• Based off of our OSHA 300 logs, we had 20 fall-related injuries last year

• Jim (the “safety guy”) will lead the effort. He’ll have help from Greg (in maintenance) and Janice (in human resources).



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• What is the timeline?–When will it all be done?–How often will you need to meet until

then?

• We will have accomplished our goal by the end of next quarter.

• We don’t need to meet before then.



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• What, exactly, do you need to do to make it happen?

• Step 1: Repair the stairs outside of Building 4

• Step 2: Install slip-resistant mats at the loading dock

• Step 3: Reorganize the supply room to reduce the need for ladders

• Etc.



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• What might get in the way? • How will you respond?

Challenge

Response

CostCombine funds from safety budget and from maintenance’s budget

Etc.



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Goal How It Will Happen

Who Will Ensure It

Does

When It Will End

Challenges &

Solutions

Reduce the number of fall-related injuries by

15%

Repair stairwell

Slip-resistant mats

Reorganize supply closet

Jim - safety

Greg - maint.

Janice- HR

The first

day of next

quarter

Share cost

between two

depts.

The Age Friendly Workplace Work Environment Example

Now It’s Your Turn…


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1. Identify a Work Environment PriorityWhat Will Make a Difference for You?

• What Is Your Priority?–What’s important for the future of your

organization?–What will people in your organization

really care about?

Lighting in the Workplace

Physical Demands of Work

Cognitive Demands of Work


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• How will you measure “success”? ________– Pick a good way to measure your top priority–How much will you change? ________–Hint: Start small to generate momentum

• Do you have a baseline?• Who is accountable?–Who is the champion? _______________– Is it a team effort? If so, who’s on the team?


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• What is the timeline?– When will it all be done? ____/ ____/ ______– How often will you need to meet for progress

updates?

• What, exactly, do you need to do to make it happen?– Step 1:__________________________________________– Step 2: _________________________________________– Step 3: _________________________________________– Step 4: _________________________________________– Etc.


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• What might get in the way? • How will you respond?

Challenge Response


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Type of Goal GoalHow It

Will Happen

Who Will Ensure It

Does

When It Will

Finish

Challenges &

ResponsesThe Work Environment

Health Promotion

Work/Life Balance- In the Workplace- In the Community

The Age Friendly Workplace

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