Retail is an industry that attracts mature workers who often work later in life. These employees often require slightly different tools to adjust for physical changes that take place over the years.

Vision is a good example and adjustments to computer monitors are a good idea. Some ideas to help with that are:

• Changing the computer monitor to a larger size flat screen giving the user a bigger ‘surface’ to work with.
• Use of ‘ease of access features’ built right into the existing software… For Windows it can be found in the Control Panel and will give you the ability to change Contrast, Brightness, Text Size, Color Temperature and more. A browser’s font size is easy to adjust as well.
• Reducing screen glare by adjusting the screen or area lighting. Consider installing an anti-glare filter on your monitor.
• Remembering the 20-20-20 rule. After 20 minutes of computer use, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

Each employee is different so you will need to evaluate both the individual and work that they will be performing. Again, this kind of evaluation would benefit all workers to improve productivity.

These are just a few tips. More information is available on the Retail Services’ Aging Workforce page,

WR employs Rick Means as Director of Safety and Education. He is available to members to help draw up safety plans and suggest topics for safety meetings. Contact him at 360-943-9198, Ext. 118 or [email protected]