PRESS RELEASE: This initiative is a bid to address the problem of 83.4% of coal miners in New South Wales, Australia, being classified as obese or overweight.

The Obesity Blueprint serves as an industry-wide framework for managing obesity and has been developed in partnership with Ethos Health, Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources and the Centre for Resources Health and Safety at the University of Newcastle.

Workers who are obese reportedly have higher rates of absenteeism, reduced productivity, increased injury and illness, slower recovery rate, and increased workers’ compensation costs.

Obesity also increases the risk of fatigue, disability and premature death. In addition, obese workers are at greater risk of encountering negative attitudes and discrimination.

The NSWMC said: “These are all devastating consequences, but with strong leadership, a supportive working culture and strong systems, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the workplace can be reduced.”