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JL  
#1 Posted : 05 December 2017 11:19:19(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
JL

Looking for advice on how far we go with an employee who is having difficulty with his chair, the employee is on the heavy side (over 30 stone) and he has no underlying medical conditions. the current chair which we purchased holds up to stone 30 and is now no longer comfortable for him (hurts his knees), he is getting heavier so we are looking to get a chair that supports up to 50 stone (at a cost of £600). Is being this weight without a medical condition a disability? Do we throw more resource at this? I far as I am aware his weight does not affect his work ability

I really don’t want to come across as sounding harsh but not entirely sure what advice to give.  

Ian Bell2  
#2 Posted : 05 December 2017 11:44:11(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ian Bell2

Give the obvious advice. This person should be advised to diet and reduce weight. For the benefit of everybody. Are we now too PC, such matters can't be raised?
Hsquared14  
#3 Posted : 05 December 2017 11:51:44(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Hsquared14

Have you established why the current chair hurts his knees?  Could it be that it needs adjustment?  I am on the large side myself and I have to say that people make a lot of assumptions about being overweight largely based on incorrect preconceptions about why someone is overweight.  The bigger / better chair may be the answer but talk to the individual first and find out if there is anything underlying the problem with his weight / knees / chair that might be fixed with a simpler solution.  If not then you need to make reasonable adaptations to the workplace which could include the new chair.   Funnily enough I am having similar issues myself but with someone at the other end of the scale, she is very small and we are having to spend a similar amount on a special chair for her, she doesn't have a medical condition either, she is just very petite.  There will always be outlyers from the norm who need special adaptations so I would look on this as one of those situations.

Ian Bell2  
#4 Posted : 05 December 2017 12:08:06(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ian Bell2

Sure ask this person why he/she thinks the chair is causing knee pain. But also don't dismiss the obvious - the knee pain is being caused by the person's weight. Are human knees designed to regularly carry such a heavy load?
pl53  
#5 Posted : 05 December 2017 12:52:17(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
pl53

For the benefit of everybody?   Really?

How does this person's physical stature affect anybody else at work other than himself and his employers?

 Where does "everybody" else come into this?

thanks 1 user thanked pl53 for this useful post.
Mrs Noodles on 13/12/2017(UTC)
Ian Bell2  
#6 Posted : 05 December 2017 12:55:52(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ian Bell2

'Everbody' as in the employer is not hit with a bill for a special chair. The over weight person has health benefits from reducing weight. Too scared to speak the obvious.
jodieclark1510  
#7 Posted : 05 December 2017 13:49:16(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
jodieclark1510

Have you spent some time with the employee and had a look at the set up yourself? Is there anything in his role the could be altered slightly  to allow some time away from being sat down?

nic168  
#8 Posted : 05 December 2017 14:04:04(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
nic168

 There may be an underlying reason why they are getting bigger. Seriously suggested they seek medical advice about the gain in weight as well as the knees.

pl 53 Anyone with a condition that effects their mobility will have an impact on others in the workplace- consider emergency evacuations are all the routes manageable for them? do they need assitance with stairs? . For someone of this size there are potential problems if they have a simple fall, standard wheelchairs & evac chairs are not suitable. Putting a larger person into the recovery posistion is more complicated than is generally appreciated

Its not just desk chairs that have a safe load limit.  James this may be a bigger problem that you initially thought.

thanks 1 user thanked nic168 for this useful post.
JL on 07/12/2017(UTC)
safetyamateur  
#9 Posted : 05 December 2017 14:11:48(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
safetyamateur

You can't say "large" anymore.

Ian Bell2  
#10 Posted : 05 December 2017 14:27:46(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ian Bell2

Provided it is shown that work is not causing the pain and reasonable adjustments have been taken, why is it the employers responsibility to resolve this. If the person has a genuine health problem causing the weight gain (it seems not from the original post and the person is not considered to be disabled) then fair enough. If Not, where does personal responsibility sit in this - to keep yourself fit enough to work. Companies are not charities.
KieranD  
#11 Posted : 05 December 2017 14:58:28(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
KieranD

James

It's worth reading The Equality Act 2010 from the perspective of addressing each employee without detriment associated with any personal characteristic.

Well above mean value BMI is a personal characteric which can be addressed in terms of accommodating him to work in ways that he can function safely.

Unless you have a company-funded assessment by a registered osteopath, it's difficult to understand how you are safeguarding him appropriately.

Safety leaders lead

Ian Bell2  
#12 Posted : 05 December 2017 15:35:17(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ian Bell2

But it's his choice to have a BIN that is probably well above average. It's not an innate personal characteristic if no medical reason for it.
Hsquared14  
#13 Posted : 05 December 2017 15:35:59(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Hsquared14

Ian - you need to get yourself educated on obesity - causes, cures and what employees should do to support people with problems.  Are you seriously suggesting that this person is not worthy of help in the workplace due to their weight?  By the same token is my very petite lady not deserving of a suitable chair at work because she failed to grow enough and that is her fault too?  Please just listen to yourself for a moment!!!!

thanks 2 users thanked Hsquared14 for this useful post.
lorna on 06/12/2017(UTC), Mrs Noodles on 13/12/2017(UTC)
A Kurdziel  
#14 Posted : 05 December 2017 15:54:08(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

Originally Posted by: KieranD Go to Quoted Post

James

It's worth reading The Equality Act 2010 from the perspective of addressing each employee without detriment associated with any personal characteristic.

Well above mean value BMI is a personal characteric which can be addressed in terms of accommodating him to work in ways that he can function safely.

Unless you have a company-funded assessment by a registered osteopath, it's difficult to understand how you are safeguarding him appropriately.

Safety leaders lead

I am concerned about the role of a, “company-funded assessment by a registered osteopath”. Osteopathy is not a branch of mainstream medicine; it is regarded as a form of ‘alternative’ medicine. If you want an assessment of someone’s health condition it should be done by a proper medical practitioner with an appropriate experience and understanding of work related occupational health issues.  

thanks 3 users thanked A Kurdziel for this useful post.
Xavier123 on 06/12/2017(UTC), flysafe on 06/12/2017(UTC), JL on 07/12/2017(UTC)
Ian Bell2  
#15 Posted : 05 December 2017 16:40:53(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ian Bell2

Natural height either tall or short is different thatn someone who is over weight to the extent that it is possibly affecting fitness to work. Have I said this person's employer should not do anything to assist? I'm querying where personal responsibility kicks into, to remain fit enough to work. Why is someone's lifestyle choice the employers problem to help sort out?
Martin Gray  
#16 Posted : 05 December 2017 21:39:31(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Martin Gray

James, I had a similar situation when employed, the problem we had was that the chair piston was pushing through the spider and cutting holes in the floor covering.  I would advise that you involve HR and if you have it your Occupational Health Advisor, as others have said there could be underlying medical reasosn for the persons size.  Also get in a Company that are ergonomists as well as chair specialists they will advise you on the best course of action. 

Good luck.

thanks 1 user thanked Martin Gray for this useful post.
JL on 07/12/2017(UTC)
Xavier123  
#17 Posted : 06 December 2017 10:15:18(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Xavier123

Originally Posted by: A Kurdziel Go to Quoted Post

I am concerned about the role of a, “company-funded assessment by a registered osteopath”. Osteopathy is not a branch of mainstream medicine; it is regarded as a form of ‘alternative’ medicine. If you want an assessment of someone’s health condition it should be done by a proper medical practitioner with an appropriate experience and understanding of work related occupational health issues.  

+1

Beat me to it.  'So called alternative medicine' has no place in our evidence based profession.

Cue anecdotal rebuttals.

thanks 2 users thanked Xavier123 for this useful post.
flysafe on 06/12/2017(UTC), JL on 07/12/2017(UTC)
A Kurdziel  
#18 Posted : 06 December 2017 11:30:14(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

Unlike height (both excessive –I am 6’4” and too little) which is something you are born with your weight is something you attain but being practical you cannot turn to some who is 30 stone and say lose 10 stone in weight NOW as the chairs we have bought for office work are only suitable for people upto 20 stone.  You are therefore left with choice to ether sack them as they are too fat (they might just take you to an employment tribunal about that!)  or work with them to see if they can lose some weight while still working for the business, which means that they will need some where to work that is suitable NOW.

thanks 1 user thanked A Kurdziel for this useful post.
lorna on 06/12/2017(UTC)
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