Occupational hazards - September 19

IT WAS incredibly sad to hear of the recent deaths of two workers struck by a train in South Wales.

Worryingly, the deaths of Gareth Delbridge (64 years) and Michael Lewis (58 years) underscore an unwelcome trend that must be tackled – older workers losing their lives at work. 

While Britain is one of the safest places in the world to work, regrettably, we regularly hear about workplace fatalities. On the day of the tragic South Wales incident, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published its annual workplace fatality statistics for last year (2018-19), with provisional figures showing that 147 people were killed at work. 

The number of annual deaths has remained fairly consistent in recent years – it was 141 in 2017-18 and 135 in 2016-17. Though it is much lower than 20 years ago – when 253 were killed at work and in 1981 (the first year the figures included self-employed people), when it was 495 – it remains an unacceptable stain and must be reduced.

There are multiple factors and failures which contribute to these fatalities and each one is tragic, causing devastation for those close to the deceased – someone who went to work and never returned home. The tragedy is only intensified by the fact that these deaths are preventable.

One standout feature from last year’s figures was that 25% of those killed in work accidents were aged 60 or over. Yet this age group make up only around 10% of Britain’s workforce. We also know that in the previous year, the toll for this age group was even worse, with nearly 40% of fatal injuries affecting them. 

The HSE analysis highlights that the rate of fatal injury increases with age, with workers aged 60-64 suffering a rate around twice as high as that for all-ages and workers aged 65 and over, more than four-times as high. 

This begs the question as to why older workers account for a disproportionately high number of workplace fatalities. It is a complex issue with many contributing factors and not one I can begin to answer in this column. However, what we do need to do is raise awareness of the problem and reflect on what support is given to older workers.

We are seeing more and more people working to an older age due to a variety of personal and financial reasons, including increased life-expectancy, the removal of default retirement age and the raising of the state pension age. 

And we know that hazardous industries in which deaths are more likely to occur, such as agriculture and construction, have ageing workforces, with large numbers of them self-employed and many experiencing economic pressures. Notably, the self-employed have over twice the fatal injury rate of employees.

While generally less likely than younger workers to have accidents at work, those involving older workers are likely to result in more serious injuries, permanent disabilities or death. They may experience more slips, trips and falls and recovery from injury may take longer. 

Older workers, like all other working people, have the right to expect that their safety, health and wellbeing will not be put at risk by their work. Employers, therefore, must ensure they have effective measures in place to protect them. 

Forward-looking organisations are already recognising the benefits of doing this. The experience and expertise of older workers mean that they are an increasingly valuable resource for businesses, so investing in their health and safety, as well as being a legal requirement, can really pay off and assist other workers too.

The Health and Safety Executive provides some useful advice for employers on managing older workers, including: 

• Reviewing your risk assessment if there are any significant changes and not just when an employee reaches a certain age

• Exploring what technology is available to assist with jobs that are physically demanding

• Allowing older workers extra time to take in health and safety information or training

• Providing them with opportunities to move to other types of work

Employers, the HSE says, can also consider how their business operates and how older workers can play a part in helping them manage health and safety risks.

There is a wealth of other guidance available for employers, including the UK Government’s Age Positive web pages, which offer downloadable resources on managing an ageing workforce.

Responsible employers who invest in looking after their employees, no matter what their age, will reap the rewards and create positive, multigenerational workforces, which support greater productivity and profitability and make full use of all the talents.

What organisation wouldn’t want that?

Richard Jones is head of policy and public affairs at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health. For more information, visit www.iosh.co.uk