The Work Environment

The Work Environment

Key PointsThe Work Environment • The spaces where we work affect us throughout our lives • We have control over the degree to which workplaces and job processes promote safe & productive work • We can promote healthy aging by designing age friendly workplaces Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

How This Presentation Will Work • We’ll introduce you to some principles to help you design and modify your workplace • Three workplace issues will serve as examples Physical Demands Lighting Cognitive Demands • We’ll consider how each issue is an aging issue • We will discuss what level of control you have in each instance and what you can do Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Guiding PrinciplesWorkplace Design and Tool Selection • Smart design is the most effective way to ensure safety, health and job performance • Match the physical and cognitive demands of work with the physical and cognitive abilities of the workforce (Fit the work to the worker) Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Fitting the Work to the WorkerUniversal Design • Fitting Work to the Worker • Simple, fair and flexible in use • Easy to see and understand • Tolerance for error Source: Modified from the Principles of Universal Design Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Physical Demands of Work Ergonomics Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Physical Demands of WorkIn Relation to Safety & Job Performance… • Lifting, pushing, pulling, bending and reaching are sometimes seen as “just part of the job” • We can design work to reduce the constant toll on our joints and muscles • Pushing the body to its physical limits can lead to injury • Injuries lead to absenteeism, presenteeism and decreased productivity Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Physical Demands of WorkAn Aging Issue • Our bodies change as we age • Skeletal muscles and connective tissue undergo natural physiological changes • Muscle fibers decrease in size and number • Water content decreases in tendons & ligaments, making tissue more brittle • Joint cartilage wears down, increasing likelihood of certain injuries (e.g. rotator cuff) Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Physical Demands of WorkAn Aging Issue • All things being equal, balance decreases with age • Changes in our vision and “peripheral sensation” • Reaction time increases with age Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Physical Demands of WorkWork Days Missed Due to Workplace Injury, 2004 Age Group Median Days Away from Work Designing the Age Friendly Workplace Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Physical Demands of WorkWorkplace Fatalities and Age Source: NIOSH Worker Health Chartbook, 2004, p 264 Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Physical Demands - An Aging IssueOccupational Injuries Treated in Hospital ER’s, 1999 Source: Work-Related Injury Statistics Query System (http://www2.cdc.gov/risqs/default.asp) Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Physical Demands of WorkAn Aging Issue • Strength peaks at about 20-30 years of age • 20-30 year olds may overestimate their abilities • Endurance declines with age • Can be maintained or improved with exercise • Endurance is affected by factors other than age… • Our physical abilities change as we age • Physical abilities vary from person to person • How do you prepare for a workforce with diverse abilities?… Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Physical Demands of WorkHow to Prepare for a Aging Workforce • Reduce the physical demands of work • To prevent injuries and increase efficiency in workers of all ages… • Priority: Reduce reaching by positioning the task as close to the worker as possible • Develop a “zero lift” policy (may take a while) • Organize work with good work/rest cycles • Practice good housekeeping • Avoid uneven surfaces Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Physical Demands of WorkHow to Prepare for a Aging Workforce • Technology is everybody’s friend… • Mechanical lifts • Mobile lifts • Mobile work platforms • Height-adjustable tables • Rotating cabin forklifts Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Physical Demands of WorkHow to Prepare for a Aging Workforce • Ways to reduce risks of slips/trips/falls • Slip resistant material on floors • Hand rails • Color contrast on uneven surfaces • Shallow stairwells as opposed to ladders Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Physical Demands of Work • A Few More Ideas… Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Lighting & VisionJob Performance • Vision is critical for… • Reading work-related documents • Interpreting signage • Seeing and reacting to safety hazards • Balance • Others? Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Lighting & VisionAn Aging Issue • Age-related vision impairment starts at about 40 years of age • Physiological changes: • The lens yellows and becomes more brittle • The muscles that focus the lens become weaker and less responsive Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Lighting & VisionAn Aging Issue • Functional changes: • Near-sightedness or far-sightedness • Restricted depth perception • Restricted field of vision • Slowed adaptation to changes in light • Increased sensitivity to bright lights and glare • Decreased sensitivity to contrast Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Lighting & VisionAn Aging Issue • Are older workers the only ones who might have trouble seeing? • One study estimated 25% of children aged 6-18 wear glasses or contact lenses Source: Kemper A, et al. Optom Vis Sci. 2004 January ; 81(1): 7–10 Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Dark letters on a dark background POOR Light letters on a dark background GOOD Dark letters on a light background GOOD Lighting & VisionDesign for Everyone… • Provide lighting levels appropriate to the task • Provide more individual control over lighting levels • Eliminate glare • Increase contrast Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Lighting & VisionDesigning an Age Friendly Workplace • Signs should be designed to be as clear and easy to read as possible • Clearview Hwy Font • Avoid visual “clutter” • Computer screens • Consult with drivers before adding new gauges and monitors to dashboards Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Cognitive Demands of Work Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Aging Badly and Aging Well…A Discussion Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Aging and CognitionWorking Memory • a.k.a. short-term memory • Recalling information quickly • Our ability to quickly understand and process new information declines with age Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Aging and CognitionLong-Term Memory • Our long-term memory tends to be unaffected by age • Meanings of words are retained • “Procedural memory” is maintained • Job competence increases over time Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

CognitionAn Aging Issue • When we’re young, our minds are adaptable and can process information quickly… but we don’t know much • When we’re older, we need more time to think and learn… but we can see the big picture • There does not appear to be a relationship between job performance and age • Our age affects how we work Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

CognitionWhat To Do • Education & Training • Give it time to sink in • Use familiar language • With computer training, use text, audio narration & pictures • Provide job support aides (“cheat sheets”) • Equipment design • Similar equipment should work in similar ways Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

CognitionWhat To Avoid • Too much information • Distractions • Introducing new processes too quickly Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Key Points ReviewThe Work Environment • The spaces where we work affect us throughout our lives • We have control over how work spaces and job processes are designed Physical Demands Lighting Cognitive Demands • We can promote healthy aging by designing age friendly workplaces Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Time for a Break… Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

The Aging WorkforceWhat To Do1 • Identify your priorities • Create a plan to address your priorities • Implement your plan and build on it 1 Planning approach adapted from “The Breakthrough Strategy,” developed by Robert Schaeffer Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Identify a Work Environment PriorityWhat Will Make a Difference for You? • What Is Your Priority? • What’s important for the future of your organization? • What will people in your organization really care about? Example: Preventing fall-related injuries Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Create a PlanHow Do You Achieve Your Objectives? • How will you measure “success”? ________ • Pick a good way to measure your top priority • How much will you change? ________ • Hint: Start small to generate momentum • We will measure the number of fall-related injuries using OSHA 300 logs • Our goal: A 15% reduction over the next quarter Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Create a PlanHow Do You Achieve Your Objectives? • Do you have a baseline? • Who is accountable? • Who will be the champion? • Will this be a team effort? If so, who will help? • Based off of our OSHA 300 logs, we had 20 fall-related injuries last year • Jim (the “safety guy”) will lead the effort. He’ll have help from Greg (in maintenance) and Janice (in human resources). Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Create a PlanHow Do You Achieve Your Objectives? • What is the timeline? • When will it all be done? • How often will you need to meet until then? • We will have accomplished our goal by the end of next quarter. • We don’t need to meet before then. Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Create a PlanHow Do You Achieve Your Objectives? • What, exactly, do you need to do to make it happen? • Step 1: Repair the stairs outside of Building 4 • Step 2: Install slip-resistant mats at the loading dock • Step 3: Reorganize the supply room to reduce the need for ladders • Etc. Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Create a PlanHow Do You Achieve Your Objectives? • What might get in the way? • How will you respond? Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

The Age Friendly Workplace Work Environment Example Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Now It’s Your Turn…

Physical Demands of Work Cognitive Demands of Work Lighting in the Workplace Identify a Work Environment PriorityWhat WillMake a Difference for You? • What Is Your Priority? • What’s important for the future of your organization? • What will people in your organization really care about? Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Create a PlanHow Do You Achieve Your Objectives? • How will you measure “success”? ________ • Pick a good way to measure your top priority • How much will you change? ________ • Hint: Start small to generate momentum • Do you have a baseline? • Who is accountable? • Who is the champion? _______________ • Is it a team effort? If so, who’s on the team? Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Create a PlanHow Do You Achieve Your Objectives? • What is the timeline? • When will it all be done? ____/ ____/ ______ • How often will you need to meet for progress updates? • What, exactly, do you need to do to make it happen? • Step 1:__________________________________________ • Step 2: _________________________________________ • Step 3: _________________________________________ • Step 4: _________________________________________ • Etc. Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

Create a PlanHow Do You Achieve Your Objectives? • What might get in the way? • How will you respond? Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

The Age Friendly Workplace      Designing the Age Friendly Workplace

The Work Environment