Older, Not Wiser? Workplace Fatalities Highest Amongst Older Generation

AFLCIO: These are challenging times for working people and their unions, and the prospects for worker safety and health protections are uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the toll of workplace injury, illness and death remains too high, and too many workers remain at serious risk. There is much more work to be done.

Safety was, is, and will always be a challenge for many. As a concept that can be applied to all avenues of life, safety is something we typically understand and respect more with age. We recognize the “safe way” to perform daily tasks and start weighing the risks involved in saving time by taking shortcuts. Or so we thought…

According to the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations’ most recent study, the largest number of workplace fatalities came in adults ages 55 and older. In 2016, over 36% of all workers killed on the job were older than 55, leading us to question why. If we as people become more conscientious of “the safe way” to do things, why are more seasoned and experienced workers losing their lives at the highest rate? Here is one potential reason:

“Seniority breeds a false sense of security.”

In contrast to a heightened understanding of “the safe way”, people inherently become overly confident with age. We believe that our past experience, knowledge, and wisdom somehow cloaks us from the risk of serious injury, especially in the workplace. If a 57-year-old worker has 25 years without an accident, they may carry an attitude of invincibility. “I’ve been on this job for these many years and I’ve NEVER had an accident” is a phrase used frequently. While statements like this can be impressive and encouraging, they’re dangerously shortsighted.

Safety isn’t just remembering to wear our protective glasses and hard hats or to tie off when we’re above six feet. Safety is dedicating yourself to performing each task as if it decides whether you return home to your loved ones. It’s natural for tenured workers to be proud of their safety knowledge and track record. However, letting that pride cloud our ability to continuously think safe is the exact reason 36% of workplace deaths happen.

FDRsafety’s Safety Culture Training has impacted over 500,000 members of our nation’s workforce by focusing on “The Why” of Safety. Our Experts motivate workers to want to be safe, and improves safety performance throughout organizations. For more information please contact Flavius Brown – Vice President at FDRsafety.