中高齡及高齡勞工與職業衛生關注議題

Issues of Occupational Health Concern for Senior and Older Workers

各國近年來致力於促進中高齡及高齡者的就業。然而隨著年長勞工數量的增加，發生職業傷害事故的比例也可能逐年上升。根據臺灣國發會的數據顯示，我國的中高齡及高齡勞動比不及於他國，但由於少子化的影響，中高齡及高齡勞工將是未來不可忽視的勞動人口，因此其職場衛生與安全維護更形重要。本文探討與分析日本、加拿大、澳洲、歐盟及美國等國家針對維護中高齡與高齡勞工職場健康和安全政策，於各國官方網站收集近期所發布的相關政策，探討政策之形成機制及施政方法，並統整歸納、提供作為我國相關規劃的參考。調查結果顯示：欲有效促進中高齡與高齡人口之就業，除了應提升雇主聘用的意願外，也需瞭解中高齡與高齡勞工的就職意願與需求，並在確保其就業不受歧視的前提下，審視目前職場的職業安全衛生管理系統是否適用於中高齡與高齡勞工。雇主可運用日本之《高齡活動100》確認表，辨識職場中與中高齡以及高齡勞工相關之職業安全衛生問題並進行改善，亦可參考澳洲或加拿大之指引，從中高齡與高齡勞工的觀點改善職場，以確保勞工的全生命週期均屬安全健康無虞。我國相較於他國較晚面臨勞動力高齡化的情況，可適切參考他國指南或政策，為將來勞動力邁入高齡化時可能面臨的職場問題擬定解決方針。

Different nations have taken initiatives to improve the employment of senior and older workers. However, as the participation of senior workers in the labor market increases, the incidences of occupational injuries rise too and require responses from the government and the industries. In Taiwan, the proportion of senior workers in the working population was less than those in the other industrialized countries. Nonetheless, the alarming trend of declining birth and population growth alerts an imminent need of senior and older workers and a critical requirement in maintaining a safe and healthful workplace. This article reviewed and analyzed the occupational safety and health policies set forth in Japan, Canada, Australia, the European Union, and the United States to safeguard senior and older workers. This review was collected aging workforce-related policies from the Internet websites of different nations and then analyzing retrospectively the development and application of these policies. The findings from the review were summarized for future referencing by Taiwanese Occupational Safety and Health Administration in setting forth relevant policies and strategies. As the review findings indicated, in addition to the effort of the employers hiring seniors, understanding the preparedness and requirements of the senior and older population to work is essential to promoting their engagement in the market. Ensuring an age discrimination-free working environment and an occupational health management system appropriate for the seniors was also a prominent task. The employers might consider the Japanese checklist from“100 Activities for the Seniors”for identification of occupational safety and health issues the seniors experienced in the workplace, and could approach the issue of managing an aging workforce from the perspectives of sensor workers, referencing Australian or Canadian guidelines. These references will serve as guidelines as Taiwanese industries increasingly hire senior and older workers and are concerned with their safety and health.