Introduction
In 2008 there were 2.6 million lay-offs with a continuing rise
expected each month in 2009. In an economy where lay-offs are
occurring and imminent, the Human Resources and Safety Manager have an
increasing challenge in maintaining the health of the workforce and
limiting workers’ compensation cost. Since lay-offs generally occur
for younger workers or those with less seniority at a facility, the
average age of the workforce rises even higher than usual. Already,
the average age of the American workforce has been over 40 years of
age for over a decade due to the “becoming of age” of the Baby
Boomers. Today, most manufacturing facilities find that most of
their employees are over 50. Now with lay-offs, with the more senior
employees remaining, will that average increase—probably.
An aged workforce provides challenges in devising and maintaining
Primary Control Programs to limit workers’ compensation cost. This
relates to the health status of workers simply because of their age
and the non-occupational related medical disorders affecting their
ability to tolerate exposures to workplace hazards. As such, it is
possible, because of these non-occupational medical disorders, that
injuries or illnesses occur, which are designated as being caused by
the hazards in the workplace. In reality, the cause of many may be
secondary to pre-existing non-occupational medical disorders.
Certain Non-occupational Diseases may increase the risk of on-the-job
injuries/illnesses; or these disorders may be aggravated by workplace
conditions such as chemical exposures, extremes of temperature, mental
or physical stress.
- Over 147,000 Americans killed by Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD)
in 2004 were under age 65.
- One in three adult men and women has some form of CVD.
- Among Whites only, 11.9 percent have heart disease, 6.6 percent
have Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), 21.2 percent have hypertension
and 2.5 percent have had a stroke.
- Among blacks only, 9.6 percent have heart disease, 5.2 percent
have CHD, 29.2 percent have hypertension and 3.2 percent have had a
stroke.
- Among Hispanics, 9.2 percent have heart disease, 6.0 percent
have CHD, 19.6 percent have hypertension and 2.8 percent have had a
stroke.
- More than 8 percent of the general population has Diabetes
Mellitus
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
(HIPAA) prohibits inquiries about a workers medical conditions
except by authorized personnel. However, there are methods to
protect workers without actually knowing an individual’s medical
conditions. This can be accomplished with health education
sessions/information and with a system of better communication
between supporting medical personnel and the facility’s safety &
health personnel.
Primary Controls of Workers’ Compensation Cost
To
prevent, one must insure proper job placement and
analyze the potential causes that may lead to an injury or
illness in advance. Once identified and analyzed the
introduction of engineering and administrative controls
must be introduced. This is the primary and most cost
effective control—”an ounce of prevention for a pound of
cure.”
Soliciting the Cooperation of Aged Workers
Statistics show that more mature workers are safer
workers, however when an injury or illness occurs, the
damage and recuperation may be more significant. Why
are they safer; several reasons. I often say that when your
19 your mind is more on “meeting a mate”; with age you
think more about “meeting your maker.” There are other
reasons though, one becomes aware of one’s limitations,
the higher risk of injury or illness due to one’s health
status, and the accumulation of changes in the body with
age.
As such, an aged workforce is more amenable to
suggestions. Suggestions made in regards to the hazards
in the workplace and the correlation of these with existing
non-occupational medical disorders. Information that will
not necessarily make them inform the employer of their
health status, but cause them to act in a more safe
manner.
Communicating with Medical Support Personnel
An additional challenge to controlling cost is
communication with medical personnel. Since their
limitations related to HIPAA is less, if sufficient information
about workplace hazards is provided, better decisions
concerning the actual causes of workplace injuries/
illnesses can be made. Examples of the type of
information helpful in this endeavor is the Job Hazard
Analysis (JHA) and ADA Job Essential Functions. If
documented properly, the practitioner is able to make
inquiries about non-occupational related medical disorders
as they relate to job site hazards.Feel free to call for an initiation consultation at no
charge.
Office—931-552-4655 (888-247-4655)
Mobile—931-624-4293
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