Work Health and Safety Management

This document discusses the importance of work health and safety management for old workforce. It explores the risks faced by older employees, such as musculoskeletal disorders and hearing loss, and provides insights into control measures and management activities to ensure a safe workplace.

Running Head: WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGMENT
Work health and safety management
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WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGMENT 1
Literature review
According to Driscoll, Carey, and Peters, 2015, it has been found that old workforce is able to
enjoy their work in some section which is not linked with the physical work. But the same
workforce faces great difficult when they are linked with the physical work. In addition to this, it
has been found that non-physical jobs do not display risk related to older employees. These
workforces often face risk when their job is physical in nature and produces more chances of
damage related to their health. It has been found that most common injury which has been often
found in these employees are slip or fall, muscle strain and handle and head injuries. In addition
to this, it has been found that old employees are not usually connected with the compensation
plan regarding injuries in the workplace. Often, old employee takes more time to recover from
these injuries and in some cases, these injuries become worst. According to CDC, it has been
found that old employee takes almost twice time to recovery as compared to the younger
employee which are in the age of 20-24. According to Jinnett, Schwatka and Tenney, 2017, old
employees are always under the risk situation related to their health. These sections of people
often face issue related to obesity and diabetes which increase the risk when this section of
workforce comes in contact with injury because obesity increases the chances of fall or slip. In
addition to this, they are increasing the chances of muscle strain when they are working at
workplace. Diabetes extends the time which old employee need to get recovery from the injury
while being treated. In this age, individual usually faces two diseases at the same time which is
impacting their strength as well as mental ability to focus on the standard procedures in the
manufacturing industry and therefore chances of injury increases automatically.
According to Roche, Pidd, and Fischer, 2016, many times these questions arise in mind whether
younger workforce is more fatal as compared to older workforce. As per the study, it has been
very clear that the younger workforce showed lower fatality as compared to older workers. They
mainly focused on one of the most important aspect behind this concept which is the younger
workforce usually have higher impact resistant as compared to the older workforce. In simple
terms, if some impact can kill an older workforce, same amount of impact will create just injury
to the younger workforce. In fact, younger workforce has the capability to face any kind of
health disease and injury as compared to old employee because their immune system, as well as
muscle building capability, is very high. It simply indicated that old employees are more concern
about risk factor as compared to younger employees and in Australia aging in population is
spreading very faster. It has been found that around 26% of workforce in Australia belongs to
this 45 age group. In addition to this, it has been found that industry which is connected with
manufacturing, construction seems to be more risky for old age workforce as compared to
service industry where they enjoy various benefits.
Magnitude of risk
As per the study it has been found that musculoskeletal disorder has been seen in age group of 45
years and one of the most common factors which generate this disorder in the individual is stress

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGMENT 2
related to job change as well as requirement of job as compared to younger workforces which are
offering great competition to this old age group workers in the organization. In addition to this,
back injuries were seen very common in 45-60 year age group. Workforce who belongs to
construction and manufacturing seems to be suffered more from this issue. It simply indicates
that human strength gets reduced with age (Van Eerd et al., 2016). As the age of the human starts
crossing 35, its strength, muscle power, and bones start becoming weak. Especially in case of
loading and unloading, these section of workforces often face injuries which becomes severe
with the time or need extra time to recover as compared to younger workers. In some case, it has
been seen that younger workforce suffer more from injuries as compared to old workforces.
Another risk magnitude related to old workforce is hearing loss after the age of 45 years. Though
hearing loss is also seen in adults of age group 20-30 years but it is more found in age group of
45-60 years which has been exposed with continuous machine noise, press sounds and other
heavy machining processes (Svinndal et al., 2018). It is very common in these places because
manufacturing industry is mainly linked with unprotected noises which are above 85 DBA and
continuously creates risk environment for the old employee workforces which are working in
this environment from years.
In some cases, it has been seen that fabricators have the highest damage volume related to
hearing loss in old workforces. In addition to this, limited knowledge of new technology in the
present manufacturing world increases the chances of risk in this old workforce. An old
workforce sees the new workforce as a threat and tries to oppose them on every movement, even
if it can benefit them (Punch, 2016). There this attitude leads them towards injury because they
overlook the main key elements of the workplace and try to cover it through their experience.
But they have forgotten that present business environment has changed and therefore it is also
important to introduce change in their attitude.
According to West, Low and Stankovic, 2016, it has been seen that many factory workers are
facing difficulties related to hearing mainly in the age group of 45-60 years. Percentage of
hearing loss in the younger workforce was found to be very less. This problem is actually the
outcome of continuous exposure of unprotected noise from years on every day. They work in a
risk environment even after knowing that their strength has reduced because they are in need of
money and cannot afford retirement. Workforces which are connected with repairs, equipment
transportation process and metal extraction are more exposed to risk. These sections are regularly
working under risk environment which includes noise, heat and unwanted threats.
Risk assessment
Type of harm
The risk related to this workforce are muscle strain or muscle torn, back and hearing loss due to
unprotected noise. Among them most common risk is injury related to musculoskeletal.

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGMENT 3
Sever rate
The severe rate related to this issue is very high because old workforces are continuously
working under stress environment which increase the amount of risk in their respected
workplace.
Death/injury/any harm
As the recovering strength at old age decreases, therefore it becomes very difficult for this
workforce to get recover from the injury and requires extra time. In some case, these injuries are
very serious and resulted in death of the person.
Factors
Most important factors which are linked with this issue are environment of workplace like
unprotected noise, excess heat and material sounds. From employee side overlooking of safety
rules, not using safety cloths and equipment while working in workplace and one of the most
important factor is lack of safety control measures in the industry.
Likely hood
Minor Moderate Serious Major Extreme
High (1) High (1) Very
High (2)
Extreme
(3)
Extreme
(3)
Medium
(2) High (2) High (2) Very
High (3)
Extreme (
4)
Low (2) Medium
(3) High (4) High (4) Very
High (5)

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGMENT 4
Control measures
It is the effective control measures which help in protecting old workforce against hazards. It
helps to avoid injuries, protection against health diseases and avoid accidents. In addition, it also
helps to eliminate the factors which generate health and safety issue for old workforce in the
workplace by offering them a safe environment while working.
One of the best framework used in control measure by Industry is involving the old workforce
while developing the control measures for health and safety. As these people are well
experienced and have gone through a various experience related to health and injury issue, so
these section of workforce can offer great insight in developing control measures because they
are well aware of hazards point within the workplace.
Another best option used by Industry to control hazards is hierarchy of controls. In this Industry
introduces five important steps in the form of hierarchy to control the hazards in the workplace
which are elimination, substitution, engineering control, administration control, and personal
protective equipment. In elimination part, Industry management tries to identify the hazards
material or object which can create risk or threat for the workforce. After identifying the material
or objective, material is eliminated from the workplace in order to offer safety. It is one of the
cheaper ways for control measures but it offers difficult in existing process (Nakayama and Jin,
2015). It is also considered as a primary need of the workplace in order to offer protection to the
workforce. In substitution part, Industry is trying to replace the existing material or objective
with another material or object which is fewer hazards in nature than the existing material. It is
also considered as second most effective process for control measures. They may be inexpensive
and simple in appearance but need also of changes in terms of the existing process. In this
Industry have another option in which they can make use of same material but its nature must be
fewer hazards. In addition to this, the replacement material is continuously monitored for its
nature in order to observe any uncertain changes in the material which can impact the health and
safety of the old workforce. In engineering control part, Industry tries to introduce a strategy
which is designed in connection with workforce protection against hazards situation. Industry
takes help of technology to introduce a barrier between workforce and hazard substance (Sacks
et al., 2015). They believe in physical change of the workplace instead of depending on the
change in behaviour of the workforce by forcing them to wear protective clothes which can make
them feel uncomfortable. It offers both feasibilities as well as effectiveness in the workplace
against hazards. In the administrative part, Industry tries to introduce control measure with the
help of training, rules, and regulations as well as some specific in shift design that can eliminate
the chances of hazards in the workplace. The main purpose of the management is to control the
particular behaviour of the workforce instead of removing the actual hazard. It offers an effective
measure to eliminate the risk in the workplace for old workforces (Lee et al., 2016). They are
more effective because they are linked with particular planning which is being developed
through a lot of research and efforts for the favor of safety protection. They failure rate is more
and can become expensive as the time move further. In personal protective equipment, Industry

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is offering personal protection to the workforce by offering them protection clothing, helmets,
eyewear and other garments which offer protection to the human body. The material is well
managed against hazards elements like heat, physical damage, chemicals and so on. It is also
considered as one of the traditional forms of protection measure which Industry are using from
years.
Another important control measure used by Industry as low as reasonably practicable. It is
basically a British health and safety system which was introduced in 1974. It is connected with
the quantities method which is linked with cost-benefit analysis. This technique is considered as
one of the most carefully and full of effort control measure used in industries. They mainly focus
on three key factors which are trouble, price and time and are connected with a breakeven point
in terms of economics (Zhang, Qin, and Wang, 2018). In this, Industry tries to keep the risk in
the workplace as low as possible by evaluating the complete workplace environment in terms of
health and safety aspect. The Industry tries to put the risk under tolerable situation by framing
upper and lower limit in order to control the expense and effort on this technique to offer
protection. This will help Industry to improve their present situation along with cost-benefit by
framing clarity about whether risk must be eliminated completely or must be minimized while
keeping cost in mind. The risks which are near to upper limit are eliminated from the workplace
and the risks which are near to lower limit are minimized in the workplace in order to provide
protection to the workforce (How, Abdullah and Othman, 2017). This technique is in need of
regular monitor because a change of work can change all the situations related to the work. This
can develop uncertainty in the workplace environment related to risk and can offer various big
challenges. This control measure is mainly related to risk acceptance instead of eliminating the
risk in the workplace environment.
Management activity to effective implementation of control measures
One of the most important activities used by management is implementation and operations. In
this, Industry tries to develop abilities and gain the trust of the workforce which is significant to
attain protection in the workplace environment. In addition to his, old employees are encouraged
by offering them power to decide what they feel at work in a particular workplace and what
change they suggest in order to eliminate the risk from the workplace in order to develop positive
work environment. A community of experienced workforce is being formed and is linked with
the safety committee in order to highlight the areas which are in great need of protection and
representation for employee health and safety benefits (Mullen, Kelloway and Teed, 2017). In
addition to this, Industry also tries to motivate their employee to develop effective
communication in them in order to promote the proper representation regarding health and safety
efforts. The industry also introduces new policy related to health and safety in the form of
management system in order to offer protection to old employees with the key aim to reduce the
risk as low as possible. Workplace environment is completely analyzed in order to identify the
possible situation in which risk can cross the upper limit and can develop a risk situation for the
worker. This offers a clear picture to decide whether risk must be eliminated or must be

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGMENT 6
minimized with the help of advanced technology and other facilities available for the
management. In this Industry uses both sources physical as well as a safety control system in the
form of PPE. In order to measure the progress, management introduces a performance system
which tracks the process on the base of health and safety to offer a positive work environment in
the organization.
Another important management activity for health and safety is auditing and rereading
performance related to safety in the workplace. Industry is focusing on improving their safety
and health system on a regular base in order to find out any variation in the system (Liu et al.,
2015). With the help of learned experience related to health and safety Industry tries to improve
the current workplace system for the old workforce. Data related to health and safety is being
gathered on a regular base and is being analyzed in order to understand the flow of risk in the
workplace for old workforce. Industry is bound to a strong commitment to safety and health
protection. Most advanced technology is being adapted to support the positive work environment
in the workplace for old workforces. Performances are being measured on the base of internal
indicators and then are compared with the current need of the business from a competition point
of view. In addition to this, Industry is now disclosing their health and safety policy on the public
platform in order to gain a positive image in the eyes of community as well as in the business
market. In this strategy, they also offer complete procedure related to the health and safety
system in the organization. One of the most important points in this policy is that old workforce
members are being involved in creating this policy by the management of the Industry with the
help of empowering strategy. Industry believes that a person working in workplace is much
aware of the work environment around them as compared to another person which is not
working in that environment. Therefore they are considered as the best choice for developing
safety and health system policy.
Injury management consideration for old workforces
Industry has introduced new work-related safety and health policies which is considered a
significant part of the safety statement which is the current need of the business world to
maintain the protection of old workforces. It is also linked with the Work Act 2005. Having an
effective safety and health policy in the Industry offers a clear set of direction related to the
workplace for old workforces who will ensure elimination or minimizing the risk present within
the workplace. These will Industry in improving their current performance because workers are
working in an environment which is full of safety and support. In addition to this, this injury
management consideration also includes responsibilities and duties related to old workforces
which they have to meet on the regular base. It also includes a cost-effective method which will
help in ensuring both human development and optimize use of physical resources which will
offer a reduction in financial as well as liabilities.

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References
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pp.646-656.

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