Risk factors for occupational injuries among older workers: an analysis of the health and retirement study.

OBJECTIVES This study examined risk factors for occupational injury among older workers. METHODS We analyzed data on 6854 employed nonfarmers from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a population-based sample of Americans 51 through 61 years old. RESULTS Occupational injuries were associated with the following: the occupations of mechanics and repairers (odds ratio [OR] = 2.27), service personnel (OR = 1.68), and laborers (OR = 2.18); jobs requiring heavy lifting (OR = 2.75); workers' impaired hearing (OR = 1.60) and impaired vision (OR = 1.53); and jobs requiring good vision (OR = 1.43). Self-employment was associated with fewer injuries (OR = 0.47). CONCLUSIONS These results emphasize the importance of a good match between job demands and worker capabilities.

[1]  S. Hendricks,et al.  Estimates from the National Health Interview Survey on occupational injury among older workers in the United States. , 1992, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[2]  W. M. Keyserling,et al.  Isometric strength testing as a means of controlling medical incidents on strenuous jobs. , 1980, Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association.

[3]  J M Peters,et al.  Fatal occupational injuries in California, 1972-1983. , 1989, American journal of industrial medicine.

[4]  P G Mulder,et al.  Perceptual acuity and the risk of industrial accidents. , 1990, American journal of epidemiology.

[5]  L. Radloff.  The CES-D Scale , 1977 .

[6]  J. Myers.  National surveillance of occupational fatalities in agriculture. , 1990, American journal of industrial medicine.

[7]  C Zwerling,et al.  Effect of recall period on the reporting of occupational injuries among older workers in the Health and Retirement Study. , 1995, American journal of industrial medicine.