November 15, 2005 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Age, on-the-job injuries and illnesses, and days away from work

Older workers require more days away from work to recover from a workplace injury or illness than do their younger counterparts.

[Chart data—TXT]

The median number of days away from work for all workers was 8 days in 2003; for those aged 55-64, it was 12 days, and for those aged 65 and older, it was 18 days. 

Older workers have more disabling conditions like fractures and multiple injuries than do younger workers. And similar events lead to more severe injuries in older workers than in others.

Data from the BLS Injuries, Illnesses and Fatalities program provide a wide range of information about workplace injuries and illnesses and the demographics of the workers involved. Additional information is available from "Injuries, illnesses, and fatalities among older workers," by Elizabeth Rogers and William J. Wiatrowski, Monthly Labor Review, October 2005.