Obesity and Warehouse Productivity

There is an interesting article in Material Handling and Logistics on June 28, 2013:  How to Compensate for Obesity’s Impact on Productivity.  The article is worth reading if you manage a warehouse, factory, or other location where the demands on workers are more physical.

We have a problem in this country.  The US is getting heavier.  78 Million American adults are one-third of the population.  In 1960, only 12% of American adults were obese.  While the adult numbers are eye opening, the fact that 17% of children are obese is simply astonishing.  In 1970, only 5% of US children were considered obese.  The increase in obesity in this country has been exponential over the past fifty years.  This problem has become epidemic.  Not surprisingly, the increase in childhood obesity is a significant contributor to the increase in adult obesity.

While a third of the adult population is obese.  A third is considered overweight.  The thresholds for being overweight are determined by % Body Fat or by the Body Mass Index.  A simple internet search will provide a wealth of information on these two measures.

The MHL article points out some significant issues that include:

• Earlier and greater fatigue onset. 
• Increased postural sway. 
• Greater postural adjustments to maintain balance. 
• Increased movement time. 
• Reduced reach distance. 
• Reduced trunk flexion. 
• Decreased range of motion (ROM).

The risk of injury is probably higher which would have an impact on attendence, increased insurance costs, and thus productivity.  

The MHL offers "four simple design principles and guidelines to address these differences in physical capabilities."

• Keep work close, within 16" (406 mm) from the front of the body;
• Keep it in the comfort zone, between 38" and 47" (0.97 to 1.19 m), or directly in front of the body between the shoulders and the knees;
• Provide appropriate equipment;
• Promote variety at the workstation.

These guidelines and design principles should by all means be implemented.  But to us, they are are more like tips.  They are to mitigate the symptom not the problem.  The root cause of the problem is the growing obesity problem.

From the June 20 Los Angeles Times:

The American Medical Assn. voted Tuesday to declare obesity a disease, a move that effectively defines 78 million American adults and 12 million children as having a medical condition requiring treatment.

The nation's leading physicians’ organization took the vote after debating whether the action would do more to help affected patients get useful treatment or would further stigmatize a condition with many causes and few easy fixes.

While imprlementing the above mentioned guidelines and design principles, companies in partnership with their insurance providers should aggressively institute wellness programs.  Unfortunately, the insurance companies, doctors, and pharmaceutical companies all treat the symptoms such as cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes with lifelong medication rather than eliminating the root cause:  our diets and lifestyle.  In essence, addressing the root cause is not really on the table.

We need to bring a Six Sigma mentality and sensibility to this problem.  That is easy to write but will be very difficult to implement.  As the Los Angeles Times noted, there are "few easy fixes."