How Treston Can Help Manufacturers Prepare for an Aging Workforce

All UK industries now face the combined challenges of an aging workforce and a skills gap, and recently NESTA's* Ageing Lab met to discuss how the working age can be extended for as long as people are capable. In response, industrial furniture manufacturer Treston has announced details of how its ergonomic workbenches, chairs and trolleys can enable manufacturers to create an age friendly workplace, and hold onto their experienced, skilled workers.

Newbury, Berkshire (PRWeb UK/PRWEB ) June 17, 2009 -- All UK industries now face the combined challenges of an aging workforce and a skills gap, and recently NESTA's* Ageing Lab met to discuss how the working age can be extended for as long as people are capable. In response, industrial furniture manufacturer Treston has announced details of how its ergonomic workbenches, chairs and trolleys can enable manufacturers to create an age friendly workplace, and hold onto their experienced, skilled workers.

It's estimated that by 2011 there will be over 12 million workers over 65, and that 45% of the UK's population will be over 65 by 2050. With there already being a skills gap and low numbers entering the manufacturing sector, it's crucial that skilled workers are encouraged to delay retirement for as long as possible. Therefore tasks in the workplace need to be made safer for aging limbs and the risk of injury minimised.

An estimated 40 million working days are already lost every year due to ill health and injuries sustained at work, costing UK companies £7.8 billion. The most common of those is repetitive strain injury (RSI) from performing uncomfortable twists, turns and reaches throughout the day. RSI affects around 500,000, with 81,000 new cases last year. The number of workers forced to retire early due to RSI is only expected to increase unless more is done to minimise strains in the workplace.

"Older workers are a valuable asset to manufacturers," said Treston's UK Operations Director Tapani Poytaniemi, "In a recent survey they were rated as being more productive and less likely to be absent than their younger counterparts. They also offer skills and technical expertise that only comes from years of experience. But unless more is done to reduce the risk of RSI, manufacturers risk losing their older workers when they could otherwise continue to contribute for many years to come."

To reduce the risk of RSI tasks need to be ergonomically optimised so they can be performed with the minimum strain. Treston's range of ergonomic workbenches, trolleys and other industrial furniture can be height adjusted to suit the worker's height and the task being performed. This reduces the strain on workers' back, neck and upper limbs, and enables tasks to be performed comfortably for long periods of time.

Treston's workbenches can also be combined to create ergonomic workflow patterns. This minimises the distance components have to travel and the strain on workers from pulling them through the assembly line. They can also be customised with modular accessories, such as tool racks, parts bins and task lights, so that tasks can be performed more quickly, efficiently and with the minimum strain.

The UK government is already concerned about the threat to the economy if the aging workforce is not looked after, and in 2006 introduced the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations to encourage workers to delay retirement for as long as they are capable. These regulations mean that making the workplace age friendly so that the old worker can continue to contribute is now a legal as well as a practical responsibility.

Details of Treston's full range of adjustable workbenches, trolleys and other industrial furniture can be found on its website www.trestonltd.co.uk, along with further information on the benefits of harnessing ergonomics in modern manufacturing.

*National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts

Press enquiries

Website: http://www.trestonltd.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1635 521521

###