Injury prevention in an aging workforce

The US is in the middle of a workers compensation and healthcare crisis. If it were not for Sept 11 and its aftermath, the crisis would likely be on the front page of every newspaper. More than 40 million Americans are without health insurance. The impact of the unhealthy lifestyles and natural agin...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Professional safety 2003-09, Vol.48 (9), p.29
Main Authors: Drennan, Fred S, Richey, David
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absenteeism
Accident prevention
Aging
Baby boomers
Chronic pain
Cost control
Employees
Employers
Health care expenditures
Health insurance
Industrial safety
Injury prevention
Lifestyles
Occupational accidents
Pain
Physical fitness
Productivity
Profits
Safety management
Safety training
Skills
Supervisors
Surgeons General
Uninsured people
Workers
Workers compensation
Workforce
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The US is in the middle of a workers compensation and healthcare crisis. If it were not for Sept 11 and its aftermath, the crisis would likely be on the front page of every newspaper. More than 40 million Americans are without health insurance. The impact of the unhealthy lifestyles and natural aging of 80 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964 must not be underestimated. Businesses and American society cannot continue to ignore the costs of this crisis; it will affect everyone. Efforts to persuade individuals to adopt healthier lifestyles have largely failed due to great societal pressure. Long commutes, long work hours, convenience of fast food, single parents trying to make ends meet, living alone and lack of social support all contribute to poor eating and exercise habits. Given the right environment, the workplace is the perfect place to acquire positive lifestyle change. People spend half of their waking lives there, and for many, the workplace is the most relevant community in which they participate.
ISSN:0099-0027