Heavyweight bus drivers will get help to slim down

Published on Wednesday 2 September 2009 21:47

OVERWEIGHT bus drivers who exceed weight limits for seats are being offered support in their attempts to shed the pounds, a transport company has said.

Drivers with Stagecoach were recently sent reminders about manufacturers' safety limits for bus seats and vehicles.

A company spokeswoman said any drivers exceeding the 20-stone limit would be given advice about how to lose weight or offered a different job.

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

She stressed the limits were not set by Stagecoach, but by vehicle manufacturers and applied to all transport companies. The spokeswoman said: "We take the health and safety of our people and our passengers very seriously.

"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.

"While it would be extremely rare for any of our workforce of 14,400 drivers to exceed these limits, we are conscious that our employees spend several hours a day in their cab, and we want to ensure they have a safe and healthy working environment.

"If this is an issue for an individual employee, they would be provided with our support in the steps they are taking to lose weight, or offered alternative employment if available."