Working Too Long Can Be Unhealthy — and Fatal
Americans age 55 and older have the highest rate of fatal work injuries among all age groups, and it worsens as they get older. According to a recent Census of Fatal Occupation Injuries, in 2016, the number of deaths for all workers peaked at a high not seen in eight years, up 7 percent from 2015. Those 55 and older accounted for 36 percent of these fatalities, even though they made up only 23 percent of the workforce. Not only do older workers die more often, they also average more days off to recover from injuries to the torso, back, shoulders, and knees. Construction workers over 65, for example, missed more than a month of work compared to a median of 10 days for all ages. More than two-thirds of the jobs that lead to older workers' deaths are the ones they have probably always done and that require a lot of physical ability. About 15 percent were in construction. Many companies still value older workers and dispute that they are weaker, more prone to fatal accidents, and a poorer risk.
Source: CBS MoneyWatch (01/31/18) Leefeldt, Ed