Age-related overexertion injuries among Swedish nursing auxiliaries over a 10-year period

This study examines the age-related risk of overexertion injuries among Swedish nursing auxiliaries. Overexertion ratios (ORs) and injury severity were measured over time, for males and females separately, all injuries aggregated and for three injury patterns, employing five age categories and three time periods. OR values varied by time period, age and gender. The number of injuries by overexertion-injury pattern varied over time, and the ORs of particular age groups were related to pattern. Female auxiliaries aged 16-24 and 45-54, and also male auxiliaries aged 25-34 consistently showed ORs greater than 1.0. Injuries of all types tended to be more severe with increasing age. These findings provide grounds for reconsidering auxiliaries' occupational tasks and work aids, and methods for safety promotion. They suggest that preventive programs should be targeted so as to address several different overexertion-injury patterns, depending on age group and gender.