There are calls for an overhaul to workplace safety, with Australian obesity epidemic starting to take its toll.
More than 7 million people in Australia are now considered obese, a fact which has alarmed the Safety and Compensation Council.
According to their research, our nurses, firefighters, paramedics and funeral workers are now at risk of physical injury as they struggle to lift fatter people.
There are also safety concerns over workplace equipment.
The Council is recommending changes to weight capabilities of seats, ladders, and elevators to handle larger people, with a predicted increase in accidents and compensation claims.