The effect of age on subjective assessment of hygienic work environment in the metal industry

Abstract Most studies have shown a simple positive linear relationship between age and job satisfaction, although a U-shaped relation has also been described. The question which arises, are the differences in the job satisfaction of different aged people caused by job characteristics and the work environment, or are they based on psychosocial variables. In this study we tried to find the answer by carrying out both objective observations and interviews of employees in the metal product manufacturing industries. Sixty companies with 261 employees in different jobs, were randomly selected for the study. A U-shaped relation was found between age and satisfaction with noise, lighting, thermal conditions, and chemical safety of the work place. Most findings on job satisfaction showed U-shaped relationships between employee age and the hygienic environment. Both young and old workers appeared to have greater benefits from working in a hygienic environment than did middle-aged workers. The results do not support alternative hypotheses explaining the effect of working conditions across age cohorts. Relevance to industry The different aged workers’ satisfaction with the items concerning industrial hygiene were compared to the researchers’ observations of the same environment. The results do not support the hypothesis that differences in satisfaction with the hygienic environment are caused by age-related attitudes. The U-shaped relation between age and satisfaction with the hygienic work environment is mainly a reflection of the actual situation in work life.