Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin believe they found a direct link between employee obesity and workers’ compensation costs.
The researchers examined 2,300 Louisiana cases to form their conclusion. They found that 75 percent of workers’ compensation claimants were either overweight (a Body Mass Index of at least 25) or obese (a BMI of 30 or more); most of the claimed injuries were torn tendons and broken bones. The study also looked at costs for major injuries, and found that the major-injury costs for non-overweight/obese workers ($180,000 per incident) were significantly lower than similar costs for overweight ($270,000) and obese ($470,000) workers.
The study found no correlation between weight and less severe injuries, or weight and recovery time. [Read more…] about Could A Few Extra Pounds Cost A Few Extra Dollars?