How to Design Comprehensive Safety Training Programs Tailored for an Aging Workforce

Tailored safety training programs for older workers can enhance workplace inclusion, improve safety and maximize the value of their experience in the workforce.

• By Mia Barnes
• Oct 02, 2024

The proportion of older employees in modern workplaces continues to increase. However, some companies fail to take a closer look at their challenges, often leading to risky situations on-site. Organizations that want to elevate their diversity and inclusion goals can do so by creating a safety training program focused on this demographic's needs. Learn how to foster a better work environment for an aging workforce by increasing their understanding of safety protocols.

Job Conditions Disproportionately Affect the Aging Workforce

Workplace conditions can increase hazards for older workers, not because of their advancing age, but because some businesses overlook their unique needs. In 2023, 6.7 percent of the workforce was 65 and older. This figure is projected to increase to 8.6 percent by 2033. From today until the next decade, millions of this demographic will remain a critical part of the labor resource and assume important roles.

By updating workplace environments through safety initiatives catered to their needs, an enterprise can benefit from those with decades of wisdom and experience. Above all, it can help mitigate the impact of staff shortages in the office.

Strategies to Design Safety Training Programs

Safety training programs serve as a checklist that includes the dos and don’ts for preventing risks. Creating one suited to long-serving workers can ensure they stay on the far side of these hazards. Here are some strategies for doing so:

• Identify the risks to older workers. It's easy to develop a counter-measure strategy if aware of what factors pose a risk for tenured team members. Is it their decreased mobility, slower reaction times or impaired vision?

In most cases, falls and trips are at the top of this list. One in four older people experiences a fall every year. Moreover, one in five leads to a serious injury, costing the family more than $3,000 for an emergency room visit.

Addressing age-related vulnerabilities requires uncovering what they are first. One solution for falls is applying slip-resistant floor treatments in areas older employees frequent.

• Accommodate diverse learning styles. People receive information differently; this is true for younger and older staff. There are generally four types of learners to modify training programs for: accommodating learners, who learn better through kinesthetic or practical application of ideas; assimilating learners, who excel in abstract conceptualization and use their logic to understand information; diverging learners, who learn through visual and auditory tools like charts and videos; and converging learners, who are the "think and do" folks who prefer to experiment and see the outcome of what they learn.

Focusing training on charts and graphs won’t be enough, as it will exclude other learner types. Instead, cater to individual needs to keep everyone on the same page.

• Simplify the language. Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to acquire new information. This ability decreases with age, making it challenging for mature people to grasp new concepts.

One trick to making knowledge absorption easy is simplifying the language. Complex terms can bar their understanding of the message. Use familiar words in instructions for others to grasp the policies.

• Provide practical demonstrations. Team members only retain up to 30 percent of what is taught when the idea is demonstrated. They can increase retention to 75% or 90% by practicing what they learn, using it immediately or teaching others about it. Ask them to repeat what they understand back to you to increase their memory.

Retention is crucial in effective compliance with safety protocols. Ensure you give them visual evidence of safety procedures and recommend auditory aids for those with vision impairment.

Leverage Technology 

If they're up for it, you can explore virtual reality for a more immersive and engaging learning experience. These computer-generated simulations allow older employees to interact in a 3D environment without risking their safety.

For instance, they can repair a machine without actually being on-site. This complete sensory experience enables them to encounter various scenarios and practice step-by-step safety procedures in a risk-free setting.

Get Feedback

Your safety training program is a success if veteran team members implement what they learn exactly as you describe it. Execution is the key factor in determining whether your programs have addressed the numerous learning obstacles of the aging population.

Get their feedback through a survey. Look for patterns of misunderstanding or confusion in the results and use them to modify your program.

Create an Inclusive Workplace Environment

Older employees encounter more challenges in their jobs than their younger counterparts. Use these obstacles to enhance your safety training programs and make them individual-centered. As long as they're well-supported, older staff can be a valuable part of your labor resource and contribute to your business's success by filling significant roles.