Building healthy construction workers by better workplace design: Understanding the context

Changing demographics and pension policies are reflected in the increasing age of workforces in the UK. Older workers are seen to be experienced, dedicated and reliable but also as being slower and tiring more easily. Staying fit and healthy for work is a key concern, particularly in the construction industry, where tasks are often challenging and adverse conditions prevail. Despite it being accepted that injury and ill health go hand in hand in the construction industry, older employees are still keen to work. The ageing workforce creates a demand for research which promotes productivity, workability and quality of life. Workplace design and ergonomics can have a substantial influence on working practices and an individual’s ability to undertake aspects of their work, and research has shown that workers can successfully contribute to this. This research is therefore investigating the role of older experienced workers in healthy design in the construction workplace. It is hypothesised that healthy behaviours can be facilitated by good design and also by utilizing the experiences of older workers. Participatory ergonomics is key in this research; previous findings have evidenced the advantages of including workers, as they are the experts in their field. Older workers in particular will be included as a result of their extensive experience within the construction industry. This paper will present the rationale and context for a PhD study investigating ageing workers within the construction industry funded by Age UK.