Title : Managing aging workforce and measuring performance for healthy aging
Abstract:
Description: The working environment is constantly changing with the aging population increasing. Due to the changes in the working pattern, new emerging risks have been introduced with many challenges to be managed. Nowadays, Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) management should be able to adapt to changes with the use of tools/techniques and consider emerging risks within risk assessment, the procedures and policies. Occupational Health and Safety Performance (OHSP) is acknowledged as one of the factors affecting the future of an organisation and should be considered when dealing with OSH management.
Objective/Goal of the research: Aiming to maintain sustainability, by applying effective OSH interventions and decision-making techniques enhancing OHSP, in a healthy and safe environment, the main purpose of this study is to present ways to manage the aging workforce within organisations. The objectives are a) to integrate OSH with individual characteristics such as aging factor and b) to present ways to integrate aging within Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems.
Applied methodology: To respond to the requirements of aging challenge, Occupational Safety, Health and Ageing Management System along with Work Individual Performance tool have been developed based on the following main aspects: 1) literature review related to OSH and ageing and 2) meetings with OSH experts and practitioners (focus groups) to get feedback during the development of the tool. Thus, the methodology that has been followed was quantitative along with qualitative.
Result and main conclusion: The existence and integration of practical tools within the organisations systems becomes a necessity, since industrial systems are forced to be adapted based on challenges and opportunities that are constantly arising including aging. Systems and Tools might be used by organisations irrespective of their size or economic activity in the transforming working environments, to evaluate their workers’ performance and state of well-being.
