The Mail new service reported today that Barry Fowers was laid off from his factory job because the company's insurance company fears if he were to fall on a co-worker he could crush them. Fowers has now applied for benefits.
Weighing 420 pounds, Fowers was spotted by the insurance company on a routine inspection. They worried his weight constituted a safety hazard to other employees at the industrial power assembly plant.
Fowers, a 34 year employee at the company, accepted the insurance company's decision and resigned, but is still classified as "fit to work". Therefore he is unable to qualify for any post-employment programs.
He also has been unable to find other employment.
Although Fowers is in the United Kingdom, Michigan employers need to consider the ADA would have required reasonable accommodations be made for Fowers before the termination could have taken effect -- unless the employer wanted to use the safety of other employees as justification for the termination.
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