NIOSH study finds more severe injuries, higher costs for older workers

The severity of injuries and associated costs are higher among construction workers aged 45 and older, a recent study conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found.

NIOSH’s study took a look at the hazards younger workers face and the disabilities of older workers and how age differences affect the rate, severity, and cost of work injuries. As a metric, NIOSH analyzed Ohio workers’ compensation claims data from 2007 to 2017 to gauge claim rates and costs by age group. Researchers found more than 72,000 injury claims.

Claim rates were divided into the following categories:

• Transportation incidents;
• Slips, trips, and falls;
• Exposure to harmful substances/environments;
• Contact with objects and equipment; and
• Overexertion.

The research found that claim rates varied by age group excluding those related to transportation. Workers aged 18-24 had the highest number of injuries involving contact with objects, while workers between the ages of 54-64 were involved in more slips, trips, and falls. Workers between 35-44 accounted for the most injuries involving overexertion.

NIOSH’s research shows that if workplaces implement policies and practices to align with age-related work injury patterns, older workers can remain in the workforce longer.