Older workers with
decreased visual
acuity can wear
safety eyewear
with close-fit
prescription Rx
lens inserts that
can be clipped
behind an eye
shield.
The Jackson Safety V60 Safeview Safety Eyewear with Rx
inserts is ideal for corrective lens wearers or workers that
require close-up magnification.
and safely as they could 20 years earlier — especially
when working in environments with exposure to
hazards, lifting, carrying, and other injury triggers.
Injuries also tend to increase in severity, recovery time, and cost with critical older talent. This
creates a quality of life challenge for the injured
and their family and for their employer because
an experienced worker is out on lost time and
the employer incurs the expenses of that recovery. Recent estimates show that accident compensation amounted to more than $51.1 billion
in direct costs annually for U.S. employers.
AMT: What are some of the differences
in attitudes and behaviors between the two
generations regarding workplace safety?
Randy DeVaul: In general, Gen Y is understood
to be an entitlement generation that has grown up
with everything being done for them or has the
expectation that it will be. Part of that thinking carries over into the workplace. Employers are faced
with a younger generation that is unskilled in certain tasks due to a lack of experience. These workers
have the expectation that someone is watching out
for them and may not understand the limitations of
their PPE. Therefore, they may not take responsibility for their safety. Conversely, if Baby Boomers are
injured, they feel that it is simply part of their job.
To them, it has always been this way. Because of
this thinking, they may not be as careful as they
could be when working. Gen Y is willing to wear
PPE but expects someone to watch out for them,
14
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November/December 2013
Aircraft Maintenance Technology • www.AviationPros.com • www.AMTSociety.org