With age and experience comes an increased risk of injury and health concerns. The workforce in America continues to get older and older, meaning more people need to understand the dangers of work-related injuries than ever before. According to the State Board of Workers’ Compensation, Georgia requires workers’ compensation for any business with at least three employees.
However, it is not all bad news if you are a worker over 45. You are not necessarily more at risk of receiving an injury in the workplace, but the types of risks change.
Catastrophic accident risk decreases
Younger workers have more risk of suffering a catastrophic injury than older workers. Several potential reasons might exist for this, stemming from lack of experience, risk-prone behavior, and the fact that younger people are more likely to take dangerous jobs. The National Safety Council (NSC) says that workers aged 16 to 19 experience contact with objects and machinery at higher rates than older workers.
Permanent injury risk increases
However, older workers experienced increased risks in other areas. The NSC also says that workers in the 55 to 64 age brackets tend to fall, trip or slip at higher rates. Older workers also have an increased risk of suffering from permanent injuries. As you age, it becomes more difficult to recover from injuries. However, you might also be more prone to take extra time off to recover, whereas younger workers tend to rush back to work.
As you get older, it becomes prudent to understand the risks in your workplace. If you never considered looking at your workers’ compensation benefits, take some time to review them before you need the coverage.
