The impact of raising the retirement age, occupational safety and health risks for firefighters

Abstract

The choice of the topic is justified and topical, as the firefighting staff of the investigated establishment is constantly ageing, the average age is high and will increase even more with the increase of the retirement age. What impact could this have on the plant and its firefighters? No one has addressed this question, even though the majority of the firefighting workforce is between 45 and 55 years old. We think that when we reach the 60-65 age group, the elderly firefighter population will be a problem. That is why we are addressing the issue in our work, looking at the impact and risks of raising the retirement age. We will describe the work activities of firefighters and examine the impact of the stress caused by the constant state of readiness and the passing of the years on the body. Our main objective is to develop a mandatory physical assessment scheme for firefighters aged fifty and over. We propose a continuous change in work activity as they age. Finally, we provide suggestions for age-appropriate firefighter work activities for physical fitness, what kind of light physical work the older firefighter is suited for.