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"More Older Workers, More Risk for Injuries"
"COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio's 50-and-older age group represents approximately 28.6% of the population, an estimated 3.25 million people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In the Buckeye State, three-fifths of the oldest baby boomers ages 55 to 64 are expected to remain on their jobs in 2010, the Ohio Department of Jobs & Family Services has estimated.Because of physical changes, older workers are at a greater risk of injuries and may require a longer recovery time, said Joel Donchess, chief of injury management at the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation. The longer an injured worker is away from work, the greater the cost of the workers' compensation claim, he added.In response to this trend toward an older work force, the BWC has launched the "Protecting Older Workers" initiative. The goal of the initiative is to raise awareness of the need for workplace safety accommodations for older workers, a BWC news release stated. "In our role as a workplace safety resource, BWC offers courses and consulting services to employers to help them identify improvements they can make to their workplace that benefit all their employees, including older workers," said James Conrad, BWC administrator and chief executive officer.To help increase awareness about workplace safety and the aging work force, the BWC is partnering with the Ohio Department of Aging. "Experienced workers are an increasingly important part of the nation's work force and employers are looking for ways to recruit and retain them," said Joan W. Lawrence, director of the department. "It's in everyone's interest to learn how relatively minor workplace adjustments can prevent injury, and increase worker longevity and productivity.""When someone is injured, the pain is felt by more than just the worker; it affects that worker's family and friends, and often times, it hurts the entire community," Donchess said. "By recommending measures to reduce the likelihood of injury, we hope to prevent not just an injury to the worker but also to reduce the adverse impact a claim has on a business' bottom line as well." To support the initiative, the BWC has created a Protecting Older Workers Web page, which can be accessed via a banner ad at the top of the BWC Web site, the release announced. The older workers page includes safety tips and links to resources such as the BWC's lifting guidelines, research papers and the Department of Aging, the release said. In addition, the fifth annual Workers' Compensation University, a free conference that tours the state in September, will offer a special session dedicated to instructing employers on the safety needs of older workers, according to the news release.Visit the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation: www.ohiobwc.com "