As we in the ergonomic furniture industry are well aware, musculoskeletal disorders caused by overexertion and poor ergonomics make up a large portion of workplace injuries. They not only lead to unnecessary discomfort, lost time and reduced productivity, but add up to $billions annually in workers’ compensation claims.
While obesity rates are on the decline since an estimated peak of nearly 40% in 2022 per some studies, obese employees are 25 to 68% more likely to suffer workplace musculoskeletal disorders or workplace injuries than healthy-weight employees, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
NIH reports that a key cause of this increase is attributed to biomechanical stress: Extra body weight puts intense, chronic load on the spine, knees, and ankles, making workers highly susceptible to sprains, strains, and intervertebral disc degeneration. Further, a joint study by Texas A&M and the University of Buffalo revealed that obesity has a substantial negative effect on muscular endurance, particularly in large postural muscles of the shoulders and the lower back, and that the effects were largest at lower work intensity levels.
All U.S. employers are ‒ or should be ‒ familiar with the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, under which employers are mandated to provide a safe workplace, free from recognized hazards, including ergonomic risks. OSHA doesn't legislate ergonomics for specific body types, however, and the science of ergonomics itself is centered on "fitting the job to the person.” While OSHA requirements, along with constant improvements in ergonomic and safety practices, aim to reduce these types of injuries, the Texas A&M/University of Buffalo study reported that many ergonomic guidelines are based on people with a normal weight—and not overweight or obese workers. Thus, researchers at the two schools studied differences in muscular strength and endurance in normal-weight, overweight and obese people.
Because obesity can increase biomechanical stress on muscles and joints during physical work, proactive employers often make accommodations, including providing adjustable seating designed to accommodate overweight or obese employees.
That’s why it’s important for those customers with heavier workers to consider BioFit Intensive Plus seating. With a 500-pound user capacity and executive-style comfort, Intensive Plus models meet increasing demand for performance ergonomic seating for heavier workers in continual-use environments in healthcare, office, education, and industrial markets, helping reduce musculoskeletal injuries, lost productivity and costly workers’ compensation claims.
