ABSTRACT
In the last decades, humanity experiences an increasing demographic change. Ageing of the population is directly connected with ageing of the workforce. The proportion of older people is growing, while fewer young people enter the labour market. This paper seeks to identify the possible relationships between age, work and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in the workforce of Cyprus. Some of the main elements of the ageing management have been used to enhance the Plan—Do—Check—Act (P-D-C-A) approach of an Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS). A nationwide study, was conducted by the Cyprus Safety and Health Association (CySHA) with the collaboration of the Department of Labour Inspection (DLI) of the Republic of Cyprus. A quantitative tool in the form of a structured questionnaire was used. The questionnaire was given to employers in accordance with the “Healthy Workplaces for all Ages” campaign of the European Agency of Health and Safety at Work. The aim of the campaign “Healthy Workplaces for all Ages” is to keep welcoming young workers but at the same time, protect older workers and suggest adaptation measures if necessary. Strategies to minimise age related issues and increase awareness should be designed and adopted at the early stages of working life and continue until retirement. This is a win—win situation where, by reducing risk factors of employees, the rate of occupational accidents and occupational diseases decreases thus, lowering costs for employers. The study aims to understand among others: whether employers consider worker’s age when they conduct a Risk Assessment (RA); the level of employers awareness of the changes that older workers are facing and whether they are willing to take action; and whether companies have a recovery plan when an older worker is back to work after a long sick leave due to an occupational disease, etc.
