Ergonomics, Workplace Design, and the Aging Workforce: Resources

For articles about workplace design issues, including ergonomics, that have appeared in Aging Workforce News, CLICK HERE. For a broader spectrum of articles on health and safety issues, CLICK HERE. For other resources, see below:

Back School of Atlanta "Issues in Dealing with the Aging Workforce" (January 25, 2010)

Zurich North America "Designing the workplace for the aging"

Webinars

"Keeping Aging Workers Safe & Productive" (Feburary 8, 2012)

Richard Bunch, PhD, PT, CBES, CEO, ISR Institute, Clinical Associate Professor, Tulane University. Because 80% or more of baby boomers are planning to work beyond the age of 65, accommodating your loyal and experienced aging workforce can pay off big for employers. Dr. Bunch, an experienced ergonomic specialist and industrial physical therapist, will provide valuable insight and tips that can immediately be applied to improve the safety and productivity of older employees. He will review proven ergonomic and wellness interventions for dealing with unique age-related changes affecting your workforce, including (1) declining stress tolerance,\ (2) reduced physical endurance, and (3) increased risk of injury, including musculoskeletal disorders.

"Ergonomics & Wellness Strategies for the Aging Workforce" (March 9, 2011)

Dr. Richard Bunch. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are the most common cause of work-related disability among an aging workforce, and the most disabling illnesses are cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. Compounding these health issues is the growing epidemic of obesity. The key to boosting the health, safety and productivity of this experienced workforce segment is to understand the physiology of aging and how to integrate ergonomics with wellness interventions geared toward addressing their special needs. During this webinar you, your ergonomics and safety team, human resources and training representatives, and anyone concerned with maximizing the productivity of older workers will learn (1) the key physiological changes that occur with age that affect work performance, (2) how to incorporate specific ergonomic interventions that address age-related performance deficits, (3) how to avoid certain conventional ergonomic and behavioral-based methods, for training and design, that are ineffective, or even harmful, for those with certain age–related conditions, (4) how to accommodate the aging worker at the time of hire and during post-injury or illness return to work efforts, (5) how to improve learning and memory so that aging workers can excel at cognitive tasks, and (6) how to incorporate wellness interventions that will reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases even some cancers.

Training

"Ergonomics Solutions for an Aging Workforce Certification" Onsite seminars offered by Back School of Atlanta.

National Council on Aging "WORKFORCE: Ergonomics and the Aging Workforce" PowerPoint presentation and Webinar presented by Dr. Andris Freivalds Dept. of Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering, Penn State University