Obesity epidemic sees undertakers report injuries from the weight of heavy coffins

6 comments

1. On the bright side, someone is going to make a mint if they can buy a robot todo the task because nothing will look fancier at a funeral than Johnny 5 (in a snazzy suit) freewheeling uncle Alan to his final pitstop.

2. Might have to start splitting them into two coffins.

3. I’m getting cremated, no expensive funeral, anyone that hasn’t bothered with me while I’m alive ain’t going to get any free party once I’m gone 🙂

4. It’s another non story, designed to make people dislike other people. Really.

5. I do think a part of this is cost cutting as well. I previously worked for a national funeral service provider and at the time I left they were cutting the numbers of people manning a funeral and you had to get special dispensation to bring in extra staff. So we used to do a funeral with 6 crew and they took it down to 4. I worked a couple where there were only 2 of us to lift the coffin into the hearse and we had to ask admin team members in the funeral home to assist.

   Likewise they were staffing with minimal crew throughout the day for other activities.

   So, if it’s the same in other regions, there’s probably a lot more dodgy lifting going on. I’d say that is the main cause of injuries.

6. Ok as American I’m confused by this. Funerals in US have family members carry the coffin to the hearse. Then when we get to the cemetery those same people help move the coffin to a rolling cart that can be used to it move around. I know we’re far and lazy as society but like this isn’t rocket science. They literally make collapsible carts to move the coffins around. Why are UK undertakers complaining?

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