The Role of Aging-Workforce Management in Maintaining Safety Performance in High-Risk Nuclear Installations

Abstract

The nuclear industry, as a high-reliability organization, faces serious challenges due to an aging workforce that could affect operational sustainability and safety performance. Although the literature on aging workforce management (AWM) is growing rapidly, empirical evidence linking AWM to safety performance in high-risk nuclear installations, particularly in developing countries, remains limited. This study aims to analyze the role of AWM in maintaining and improving safety behavior in nuclear installations in Indonesia. This study uses a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design with 281 employees from nuclear installations under the auspices of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). AWM is conceptualized as a multidimensional construct encompassing employee well-being and human resource practices, while safety behavior is measured through the dimensions of safety awareness and safety actions. Data were analyzed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The analysis results show that AWM has a positive and significant effect on safety behavior (β = 0.607; C.R. = 6.875; p < 0.001), with the measurement and structural models having a perfect fit. These findings confirm that well-being-oriented aging workforce management practices, continuous training, work ergonomics, and career planning can strengthen workers' safety awareness and compliance. Theoretically, this study extends the safety and human factors literature by positioning AWM as a strategic mechanism in maintaining the safety performance of high-risk socio-technical systems. In practice, the study's results provide policy implications for adaptive, sustainable human resource management to ensure the long-term safety of the nuclear industry in developing countries.