Abstract
A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among 637 male construction workers aged 40 years and older in order to gain information on senior construction worker's a) health and work ability, b) career prospects and preferences, and c) relationship between health, work ability, and career expectations. With a prevalence of 56%, musculoskeletal disorders were found to be the most common disease category. Advancing age was found to be associated with a deterioration in health and work ability status. Around 33% of the senior workers was not certain about continuation of their current job until retirement age. A strong association was found between health and work ability status and the expectations about the development of the career till retirement. Most preferred preventive measures of the workers themselves were all related to a decrease in their overall workload. Increasing attention for the vulnerable group of senior construction workers by means of occupational health care measures such as changes in the physical work content and environment, development of health promotion programs, and performance of periodic occupational health surveys is suggested.
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