New data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that senior transportation workers above the age of 65 have a much higher risk of being killed in a workplace accident, compared to workers in the age group of 55 to 64, and below 18 years of age.
The data was based on an analysis of accidents that occurred between 2003 and 2010. The analysis indicates that workers aged 65 who have to drive as part of their workplace duties, are much more likely to die in accidents. This could be because these workers have a greater susceptibility to serious injury that increases their risk of a fatality. As a person ages, his risk of dying when he is involved in an accident increases, because of ageing-related issues.
There may also be other issues like a decline in cognitive abilities that also places a senior worker at a higher risk of fatal accidents. Overall, the analysis found that employees between the age of 55 and 64 were approximately 50% more likely to die in an accident, and workers above the age of 65 were three times as likely to die in an accident.
It is likely that this is a workplace safety problem that will only get worse as the years go by. More senior workers are expected to join the American workforce over the next few years, as the recession and the dismal economy postpones retirement plans. When you have more seniors in the workforce with declining cognitive abilities, deteriorating vision, poor hearing, poor coordination and all kinds of other age-related issues, there may be a higher risk of being involved in accidents.
Douglas Horn is a Missouri work injury accident lawyer, dedicated to the representation of victims of workplace accidents across Missouri.
