OLDER CONSTRUCTION WORKERS: NEEDS AND ABILITIES

Construction presents specific problems for vulnerable workers, be they younger, older or migrant workers (Dainty et al, 2007). This paper concentrates on the needs and abilities of older workers. In addition to the health problems associated with normal ageing, heavy physical workloads have been shown to exacerbate this physical decline. Construction is recognised as having higher rates of fatality, injury and illness than most other industries. Many workers in industries with a heavy physical workload are forced into early retirement due to injury and ill-health. Although there is data available to show age-related relationships with a range of occupational ill-health conditions in construction, little has been done to explore workers ’ personal perceptions of ageing. The SPARC (Strategic Promotion of Ageing Research Capacity) initiative funded a project at Loughborough University to explore the needs and abilities of older construction workers (Leaviss et al, 2008). The pilot research used qualitative methodology to attempt to gain a rich understanding of some of the issues that are perceived to impact upon the health and career paths of older workers. In-depth semi-structured interviews and focus groups were held wit