Risk factors for occupational injuries among older workers: an analysis of the health and retirement study.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined risk factors for occupational injury among older workers.

METHODS: We analyzed data on 6854 employed nonfarmers from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a population-based sample of Americans 51 through 61 years old.

RESULTS: Occupational injuries were associated with the following: the occupations of mechanics and repairers (odds ratio [OR] = 2.27), service personnel (OR = 1.68), and laborers (OR = 2.18); jobs requiring heavy lifting (OR = 2.75); workers' impaired hearing (OR = 1.60) and impaired vision (OR = 1.53); and jobs requiring good vision (OR = 1.43). Self-employment was associated with fewer injuries (OR = 0.47).

CONCLUSIONS: These results emphasize the importance of a good match between job demands and worker capabilities.