Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment the Health and Safety Executive has made of the effect of an ageing workforce on safety at work in the UK.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) commissioned a report into age and employment in 2011 http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr832.pdf. The report found little conclusive evidence that older workers have an increased risk of work related accidents than younger workers. However, if an older worker is involved in a work related accident, the individual is likely to suffer more serious injuries, permanent disabilities or death, than for a younger worker. This is supported by statistics published by HSE.

The report also found there is little evidence that chronological age is a strong determinant of health, cognitive or physical abilities, sickness absence or productivity.

HSE’s website includes specific guidance on how to tackle and address health and safety issues in relation to older workers http://www.hse.gov.uk/vulnerable-workers/older-workers.htm. Additionally, as part of the European Occupational Safety and Health Agency campaign – Healthy workplaces for all ages, HSE is currently working with external stakeholders to specifically target high risk industries with high ratios of older workers, such as agriculture.