Ergonomics & The Aging Workforce

ERGONOMICS & THE AGING WORKFORCE

WA1	The Aging Workforce Defined Brian R. Sherman MS, CPE; Director of Ergonomic Services, The Ergonomics Center of North Carolina Wednesday, May 30 8:00 AM - 9:15 AM The aging workforce is a trend that organizations across all industries must address now. U.S. industries have already witnessed the average age of their workforce increase to its current level of 48 years of age. It is expected that the working population over the age of 55 will grow by 38% in the next decade, and 75% in the next 25 years. This information packed presentation will summarize the trends and show how ergonomics can be used as a key strategy for coping with this reality. Before attempting to address the challenges presented by an aging workforce, ergonomics practitioners should understand the demographics as well as the physical and cognitive changes that occur with age. Attendees will learn: Current statistics and demographics regarding the aging workforce How aging affects strength and endurance How aging affects information processing, vision and hearing How to identify basic ergonomic stressors in the workplace and how to use ergonomic principles to reduce these stressors for older workers.	ALL LEVELS
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WB1	Maximizing the Aging Workforce with Ergonomics at Owens Corning Jeffrey Smagacz, CPE, CIE, BSIE, MBA; Global Ergonomics Leader, Owens Corning, Inc. Wednesday, May 30 9:30 AM - 10:45 AM The aging workforce faces significant physical and cognitive limitations. Despite the aging process, older workers – with their vast knowledge and experience – are a valuable asset. Every workplace should accommodate all ages, including older workers because this segment of the workforce is a powerful resource for maintaining market competitiveness. This presentation will explore how Owens Corning addresses the issues related to its aging workforce, their impact in the workplace, and what steps they have put in place to promote the safety and productivity of its aging workforce. Attendees will leave this session with the skills and knowledge to: Identify risk factors in the development of work-related injury and illness Identify opportunities to improve the work environment Discuss the economic and social impact on the employer and the workforce Recognize the seven main factors related to aging that have an impact on the workforce and work process Understand how ergonomics affects productivity, quality, cost, and compliance.	ALL LEVELS
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WC1	The Aging Workforce: Implications for Managing Slips, Trips & Falls Wayne S. Maynard, CSP, CPE; Director, Ergonomics & Tribology, Loss Prevention Department, Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety Wednesday, May 30 2:15 PM - 3:30 PM Ergonomics helps to accommodate and match worker capabilities and limitations to tasks in the workplace. Limitations of workers can include individual differences such as aging. Ergonomics is applied easily in the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, but is not well understood for the prevention of slips, trips and falls. These workplace hazards represent the highest or second highest type of workers compensation claim in many industries. This session will review the differences in physical, mental and performance capabilities as we age and the implications for safety. We will also identify causes of slips, trips and falls including tribology and ergonomics. The session will conclude with a review of facility design standards with special emphasis on inside and outside pedestrian walkways and stairways.	INTERMEDIATE
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WD1	Keys to the Successful Recruitment & Retention of Older Workers Diana J. Schwerha, Ph.D.; Assistant Professor, Industrial & Systems Engineering, Ohio University Wednesday, May 30 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM Unexpected retirements can lead to a loss of corporate knowledge with the potential for subsequent reductions in productivity and increases in safety risks. As more companies experience knowledge losses caused by retirements in key businesses or functions, those not leveraging their mature workforce will miss the boat. The retirement literature points to health as a major reason why employees retire, however, the literature is ambiguous with regard to how the certain health status occurred and which potential changes to the worksite could have been implemented to offset retirement decisions. This session will explore useful audit tools that allow ergonomics practitioners to identify target areas for interventions that could lead to higher retention rates of older workers and ultimately better succession planning.	INTERMEDIATE
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TA1	How Workers’ Comp Claims are Impacted By An Aging Workforce Cindy Roth; CEO, Ergonomic Technologies Corporation Thursday, May 31 8:00 AM - 9:15 AM Every year millions of dollars in profit are lost in every type of industry due to workers’ compensation costs and the associated lost work time. The majority of workers’ comp cases are a result of ergonomic-related injuries, with claims resulting from poor work methods and processes, inappropriate tools and equipment, poor workstation design, and manual material handling. This session will explore the impact of an aging workforce on workers’ comp, and attendees will learn: How the bodies of older workers react to ergonomic risk factors and the total environment Best practices for reaching, lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying.	ALL LEVELS
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TB1	Successfully Promoting Safety Programs in a Seasoned Workforce Diane S. DeGaetano, RN, BSN, OHC; Occupational Health Manager, Merial North America Thursday, May 31 9:30 AM - 10:45 AM Employing a seasoned workforce can be both challenging and beneficial. However, older workers’ needs differ from their younger counterparts and safety considerations must be targeted at this segment of the workforce. Using interactive demonstrations of the senses, safety engineers, ergonomists, and senior managers will be sensitized to changes in hearing, vision, mobility and balance to illustrate the health and safety challenges unique to this demographic. Participants will assess how the senses relate to safety and health, and explore ways to ensure and promote a safe work environment for this growing population. After attending this session, you will have the skills to: Identify challenges related to an aging population Discuss solutions for accommodating the aging demographic.	ALL LEVELS
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TC1	Integrating Wellness Interventions with Ergonomics to Maximize Productivity in an Aging Workforce Rick Spencer, MS; VP of Business Development & Consulting, Omega Solutions in Ergonomics Richard Bunch, PhD, PT, CBES; CEO, Industrial Safety and Rehabilitation Institute (ISR) Thursday, May 31 2:15 PM - 3:30 PM The current challenge facing every ergonomics professional is the declining physical and mental capacities of their organization’s most important asset. This session will provide attendees with practical steps including evaluation tools, cultural models, and management practices that will assist in maximizing this workforce demographic. Attendees can expect to leave the discussion with an understanding of: Physiological changes associated with aging that affect work performance Ergonomic interventions that will lead to successful accommodations for older workers Disorders and disease that require special ergonomic attention including diabetes, cancers, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and degenerative disc disease Effects of aging on both absenteeism and presenteeism, and strategies for reducing lost time and increasing productivity.	ALL LEVELS
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The National Ergonomics Conference and Exposition and the Eastern Ergonomics Conference are owned and managed by Continental Exhibitions, Inc.
For more information contact Walter Charnizon, President, at Continental Exhibitions, Inc., 370 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017,
Phone 212-370-5005, Fax 212-370-5699, E-mail information@ergoexpo.com