By 2022, it is expected that about 25 percent of all workers around the country will be 55 years of age or older. While older workers provide companies with a wealth of knowledge, they are also more likely to get hurt after a slip, trip or fall. For those who are 65 and older, the incidence rate is 49.5 per 10,000 workers, which is about double the rate for workers under the age of 45.
An older worker who is injured may take longer to return to work compared to a younger worker. Those who are 65 and older take 17 days on average to return to work while workers between the ages of 16 and 19 take four days to recover from an injury. The one silver lining is that overall, older workers tend to suffer from fewer injuries compared to their younger counterparts.
This is in part because people gain more emotional security as they get older. Therefore, they may be better able to avoid risks that lead to injury or are more likely to speak up if they see a dangerous condition. Helping older workers avoid injury will be important as people lead longer lives and feel the need to work later in life to create financial stability for themselves.
If an individual suffers a job injury, it may be possible to obtain workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits can include the furnishing of medical care as well as a replacement of a portion of lost wages. An attorney who has experience with these matters can often be of assistance to an injured worker in the preparation of the claim and ensuring that it is filed on a timely basis.