Too fat to work?

[EEVILMURRAY]

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090902/tuk-fat-bus-drivers-warned-over-spare-ty-45dbed5.html

 

One of Britain's largest bus operators has been accused of discrimination after telling heavyweight drivers to shed the pounds because of fears they will break seats. Skip related content

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Fat Bus Drivers Warned Over Spare Tyres Enlarge photo

 

Stagecoach has sent letters to staff informing them that drivers who weigh over 20 stone will either be offered weight loss advice or a different job.

 

The firm said the health and safety limit was not set by Stagecoach but by vehicle manufacturers and applied to all transport companies.

 

A spokeswoman said the company had taken steps to remind drivers across the UK about the policy, which had always been in place.

 

"We take the health and safety of our people and our passengers very seriously," she said.

 

"All bus operators have a duty of care to make sure these weight limits are adhered to and we have taken steps to remind all of our bus companies of the safe working load limits for the specific vehicles in our fleet."

 

But transport manager for London bus company Beeline, Stewart Field, branded the policy discriminatory.

 

"I wouldn't put that on anyone. Sometimes it's not down to lack of exercise. It could be a medical condition, like a thyroid problem," he said.

 

"We put our drivers through rigorous and regular medical checks - this is enough."

 

Mr Field added he did not believe weighing 20 stone would hinder the ability to drive.

 

It is not the first time drivers and bus companies have clashed over the weighty issue.

 

In 2005, 17 Australian bus drivers appealed to a tribunal after reportedly being sacked for being too fat.

 

And last year 53-year-old Marie Parker, who weighed 12 stone, was allegedly told to lose weight if she wanted a job as a bus driver.

 

This is bullshit, these people are being paid to practically sit down all day, and then expect them to what? Launch into a Mr. Motivator [Awesome as he may be] routine when they get home after driving a coach for 8 hours?

[The fish]

If there's a genuine risk, then maybe there's a case. However, the 12 stone woman at the end is an absurd scenario.

[Raining_again]

I think maybe its more of a health and safety issue. If they aren't reminded about the weight thing, someone will eventually break a seat and injure themselves/crash the bus. That's just a lawsuit waiting to happen.

 

I do sympathise with them, I'm sure its not easy finding the motivation.. But its for the good of their health as well as the good of their employment and safety.

[Josh64]

I can kind of see where they're coming from when it comes to people who weigh 20 stone but I think telling someone who is 12 stone to lose weight is ridiculous.

As bad as the article may sound it really is a Health and Safety risk so it's better to be safe than sorry as they say.

[Raining_again]

I can kind of see where they're coming from when it comes to people who weigh 20 stone but I think telling someone who is 12 stone to lose weight is ridiculous.

As bad as the article may sound it really is a Health and Safety risk so it's better to be safe than sorry as they say.

 

It sure as hell is h&s, big companies HAVE to be very active in health and safety. Especially these days with the "sue culture" we have so nicely developed..

 

I would take "allegedly" with a pinch of salt to be honest.

[EEVILMURRAY]

I can kind of see where they're coming from when it comes to people who weigh 20 stone

I do concur. I'm wondering how the bus companies are expecting the workers to go about it. Buy Wii Fit and hope for the best?

[MoogleViper]

This is bullshit, these people are being paid to practically sit down all day, and then expect them to what? Launch into a Mr. Motivator [Awesome as he may be] routine when they get home after driving a coach for 8 hours?

 

We aren't talking about being as fit as an athlete here. 20 stone is a massive weight. Apart from disability it's incredibly easy to stay under 20 stone. In fact it's more of an effort to weigh more than 20 stone than it is to weigh less.

[Daft]

I do concur. I'm wondering how the bus companies are expecting the workers to go about it. Buy Wii Fit and hope for the best?

 

Eat healthily? Go on a diet? Cycle to work? Go to the gym every now and again around their work time? Generally be more active? Cut down on drinking?

 

How people usually lose weight, I suspect.

[Raining_again]

We aren't talking about being as fit as an athlete here. 20 stone is a massive weight. Apart from disability it's incredibly easy to stay under 20 stone. In fact it's more of an effort to weigh more than 20 stone than it is to weigh less.

 

 

O___o

 

You aren't anywhere near 20 stone to know?

[EEVILMURRAY]

We aren't talking about being as fit as an athlete here.

Not to fear. With Mr. Motivators productions "Mr. Motivator's 10 Minute BLTs" and "Mr. Motivator's 10 Minute Workouts" they can cut that shit down in no time.

[Sheikah]

At the end of the day, if you're over 20 stone you're obviously eating more than your body requires. It's gluttony.

[jayseven]

To be honest, discrimination has such a bad reputation. Sometimes fit, sighted, fully-hearing people are totally better at the job in hand. I don't really see this as 'fatist' at all (besides this whole 12-stone thing, which is surely nonsense), and any fat person who does is clearly lying to themselves, and fully a believer that being fat is ok. But it's not. It's ugly and depressing for themselves and everyone else.

 

And by fat I mean, like, morbid fat. Not "ooh does my bum look big in this?" or "oh no I have to start wearing large t-shirts because mediums don't fit anymore" or "oh when I sit up I have belly creases!" or any of that. I mean XXL fat. neckless fat.

 

RANT RANT!

[danny]

Theres is no excuse for being fat (ok there are a few, but not in general). Its just lazyness. Should people go to the gym after finishing an 8 hour shift at work in my opinion yes they should. Either that or put down the fucking fork!!!!

[Fierce_LiNk]

That 12 stone scenario at the end of the article is bizarre. I've got females friends who are around the 12 stone mark, and I wouldn't look at them and think "oi, you're too fat to work." Also, my Mum is a fair bit shorter than me, and she's probably around the 12-13 stone mark, but if you would look at her you'd probably think that she was in need of a diet and plenty of exercise. Not so simple when you consider her age and health conditions. Being older, you're generally not going to be in the best shape of your life, and a lot of people around that age mark will only be able to manage light-jogging or some light work at the gym at the most. I'm not saying that it's wrong or impossible for someone over the age of 50 or 60 to exercise or go to the gym, but that it will be harder due to health conditions, heart conditions, and so forth. Likewise, I know some oldies who have kept themselves in good nick, and there are a few here and there who go to the gym that I go to. So, it can be done.

 

Some people do find it hard to keep their weight down, usually down to medical conditions. With a lot of people though, it is purely down to willpower and having that drive to do something about your weight or appearance. I enjoy going to the gym and working out, but many people find it a chore, or a struggle. But, there are people on here who have lost big sums of weight. I know Caris has recently lost something like 3 stone, and Raining_Again is losing weight all the time. So, it can be done, if you're motivated enough.

 

As for being too fat to work: Well, I would pretty much be agreeing with what Raining_Again has mentioned. Big companies have to be very health and safety conscious. Where's the middle ground though? At what stage is a person "not a risk"? If you're 12 stone and still considered a risk, then I'd like to know how much you'd have to weigh.

[Shino]

I don't think its as simple getting thin as most people make it sound, there's a lot more variables than just putting down the fork.

[Paj!]

Theres is no excuse for being fat (ok there are a few, but not in general). Its just lazyness. Should people go to the gym after finishing an 8 hour shift at work in my opinion yes they should. Either that or put down the fucking fork!!!!

 

I don't think its as simple getting thin as most people make it sound, there's a lot more variables than just putting down the fork.

 

What he said.

 

It requires an incredible amount of willpower. Eating means different things to different people. Some comfort eat, have a huge appetite etc, some have a high metabolism, and dont feel the need to eat much etc.

 

But obese people will find it much harder to just "go to the gym" than most people.

[Bren]

lol, cant see what the discrimination is, its looking out for their health, fat fools should be happy their work is goin to give them advice! If they've got an illness theyll get advice to get it treated, if their over 20 they can get the band in their stomach?

[danny]

What he said.

 

It requires an incredible amount of willpower. Eating means different things to different people. Some comfort eat, have a huge appetite etc, some have a high metabolism, and dont feel the need to eat much etc.

 

But obese people will find it much harder to just "go to the gym" than most people.

 

But people shoudnt get to the stage where they are obese in the first place. Like i said there are some genuine resasons. But nowhere near as many as there are fat lazy gits wadeling around draining the NHS of funds.

[Paj!]

Well I'm not saying I like it.

 

But you can't change the fact someone becomes obese, and then needs medical assistance. You can't change the fact someone becomes a hard drug abuser and then needs medical help, and so on.

 

It's good to implement ways to prevent obesit obviously, but complaining that obese people are what they are isn't going to help.

[Daft]

I like the comparison between fat people and drug addicts.

[danny]

Well I'm not saying I like it.

 

But you can't change the fact someone becomes obese, and then needs medical assistance. You can't change the fact someone becomes a hard drug abuser and then needs medical help, and so on.

 

It's good to implement ways to prevent obesit obviously, but complaining that obese people are what they are isn't going to help.

 

Well if people dont complain we will just carry on down the path we are on until an even more stupid % of the nation are over weight. Why should the NHS give people assistance who do nothing to help themselves? Im not saying if someone gets fat then dont help them. But if they get fat need help. But then dont change anything after this point then why should we carry on helping them?

[Paj!]

Is that sarcastic?

 

It was just an example of people who need/take help from NHS in various ways, and that their entire past can't be rewritten.

[danny]

Im not saying there past can be changed. But there future can be. If they cant help themselves why should the nation bother?

[Daft]

Is that sarcastic?

 

It was just an example of people who need/take help from NHS in various ways, and that their entire past can't be rewritten.

 

It's just amusing since if an employee was discovered to be a drug addict they'd most likely be fired.

[bluey]

i'd be more worried about a 20 stone employee dropping dead on shift than breaking a seat @___@