4. HEALTH AND SAFETY AND OLDER WORKERS

Research undertaken for Age Concern and Help the Aged (now Age UK) and The Age and Employment Network (TAEN) found that despite their increased participation in the labour market few studies had examined the health of older workers . However, unions have highlighted several areas of concern and set out guidance for their reps and for employers, which are summarised in this Chapter.

As public services union UNISON sets out in its Older Workers Briefing Report, “We have to think about what working life will be like for a 67 year-old contract cleaner in a hospital, expected to cover the same number of wards in the same period of time as they would have done in their 40s. Or, the road maintenance worker out in all weather, expected to keep pace with a team of younger colleagues.”