BACKGROUND

Ongoing demographic changes observed in Poland indicate progressive aging of the population. The process of systemic transformation initiated in Poland in 1989 has contributed to a significant decline in occupational activity among people especially those at the pre-retirement age. The identification of determinants responsible for the decreased occupational activity in older age groups of the population may provide the basis for taking appropriate steps to extend their period of employment, which will become a must in the near future in view of current socio-demographic phenomena. Therefore, the aim of the this study was to identify factors, which mostly contribute to an earlier departure of older workers from working life. The presented analysis concerns occupational factors characteristic of working conditions.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was carried out in a group of current and former workers aged over 45 years and below the retirement age, employed at production workposts and in production services in the years 1996-2000. Active workers of the same age (+/- 3 years) and gender, employed at adequate workposts were matched with selected persons who had left their job because of becoming entitled to disability pension, earlier retirement, benefit or pre-retirement allowance. A questionnaire-based interview was used to collect empiric material, and logistic regression to analyze the risk of earlier departure from working life.

RESULTS

The investigation carried out in the study group showed that the following factors mostly influenced departure from work before reaching the retirement age: piecework system (OR = 7.76; 95% CI: 2.53-23.79); heavy lifting at work (OR = 1.90; 95% CI: 1.11-3.25); physical workload (OR = 1.92; 95% CI: 0.74-5.00); exposure to low temperature (OR = 1.71; 95% CI: 0.94-3.09); exposure to whole-body vibration (OR = 1.47; 95% CI: 0.96-2.25); subjective assessment of fatigue after work (OR = 2.25; 95% CI: 1.45-3.48); and no leisure time after work (OR = 2.71; 95% CI: 1.52-4.83).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study can be regarded as an important indication that appropriate preventive measures should be taken to improve working conditions especially for older age groups, or to provide the possibility of their retraining if the occupational activity of older workers is to be increased.