Impact of Increasing Working Age on OHS as a New Risk

The field of occupational health and safety is an ever-developing area responding to new information, technological advances, or social situations. Regarding this development, new approaches to creating conditions for effective managanent of processes in occupational health protection and increasing occupational safety are required. 

The EU finds itself in a process of significant population aging. According to the latest Eurostat estimations, issued in 2008, in the EU by 2060 there will be only two people of a productive age (15-64 years old) for each person over 65 years of age, as compared to the current ratio of four people of a productive age for each person over 65 years of age. 

Within the employment strategy, the member states implemented measures to stop the early retirement trend, which resulted in the EU-27 s 55-64 age group unemployment rate rising from 36.9 percent in 2000 to 46 percent in 2009. 

In light of the above-stated factors in relation to the labour market, it follows that older employees will constitute the fastest-growing labour force segment. 

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