Canada’s workforce is increasingly aging as a result of demographic shifts. Those aged 55 years and above now comprise up to 20% of the workforce. However, there are limited guidelines on how best to accommodate this cohort to take advantage of their experience while reducing the risk of workplace musculoskeletal disorders. While core task performance is often similar across ages, and older workers tend towards greater compliance with safety rules, there are age-related changes in work capacity (e.g. decreased cardiorespiratory fitness, strength, and flexibility) that may predispose older workers to an increased risk of injury. For these reasons it is imperative from both ethical and business perspectives to develop targeted strategies for reducing injury risk for older workers. Our laboratory aims to address these knowledge gaps by assessing how issues such as age, kinematics, anthropometrics, flexibility, and strength influence factors that associate with occupational injury risk and productivity.
