IS AGE/AGEING A RISK FACTOR FOR WORK-RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS? A LITERATURE REVIEW

This work was undertaken to provide a review of the literature about ageing and work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). Evidence suggests that attitudes towards ageing are changing; more employers now regard older workers as a valuable asset. Older workers are more susceptible to work-related MSD than younger workers due to decreased functional capacity. However, the propensity for injury is related to the difference between the demands of work and the worker's physical work capacity rather than their age. Once risk factors associated with work are adjusted for, older workers are no more likely to suffer an MSD than younger ones. An older workforce has implications for the health and safety responsibilities of employers. It is recommended that awareness campaigns be implemented to disseminate the benefits of ageing workers and raise awareness of the workplace barriers to their continued employment.