Edition 64, January/February 2009

OHS implications of obesity for workplace designers



The Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) has released a research report on the implications of overweight and obesity for workplace health and safety and workers' compensation.

The report, Sizing Up Australia: How contemporary is the anthropometric data Australian designers use? investigates what anthropometric data is being used by designers of workplace equipment and products and assesses whether this data reflects the contemporary Australian workforce.

Anthropometric data are the measurements of the human body form used by designers to represent the human shape and size in designing products, spaces and systems.

The report focused on the occupational health and safety implications of accurate anthropometric data for the design of Australian workplaces.

According to ASCC a number of emerging issues including the extent of overweight and obesity amongst the Australian workforce may have implications for the designers of workplace equipment and products.

In 2008 the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that more than 7 million Australians aged 18 years and over are overweight or obese, representing an increase of 2.8 million over the previous 15 years.

This research report suggests that existing Australian anthropometric data may not adequately represent the current Australian workforce.

According to the study, Australian designers are concerned that they were using out of date or inaccurate data and they want access to data which accurately reflects the current body shape of the Australian workforce.

ASCC Chairman, Mr Bill Scales AO said, �more accurate Australian anthropometric data and tools will help our designers make workplaces safer."

This report is available from the ASCC website at www.ascc.gov.au/ascc/AboutUs/Publications/ResearchReports/ (go to January 2009).

 

This page was generated on 26 August, 2009