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Lifts Too Small? UK Obesity Rates Pose Safety Risk
13 May
Summary
- Lift capacity signs haven't been updated in 50 years.
- Average weights have increased significantly since the 1970s.
- Overestimated lift capacities could compromise safety.
Research indicates that lifts in Britain may be unsafe for current passenger weights, driven by increasing obesity rates. Capacity limit signs, which dictate the maximum number of passengers, have not been updated in five decades. These signs are based on outdated average weights, with historic standards assuming a weight of just under 12 stone (75kg) per person.
However, the average weight of a UK man is now 86kg, and a woman 73kg. Experts from University College London (UCL) found that lift manufacturers have failed to adapt these standards. This oversight means capacities are overestimated, potentially leading to increased journey times and compromised safety. Incidents of lifts stopping due to exceeding weight limits, even with fewer people than indicated, have been reported.
This situation highlights how public spaces have not been adapted for plus-sized citizens, a challenge extending to train and plane seats and doorways. Experts advocate for updating communal facilities to reflect 21st-century body sizes, emphasizing dignity, accessibility, and inclusion for all individuals.
