A study of injured U.S. aluminum industry workers in 2002-2004 established a positive correlation between the Body Mass Index (BMI) and traumatic work injuries, according to a presentation held Monday at the American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Expo.

In the study, 85 percent of the injured aluminum industry workers were classified as either overweight or obese. The presenter, Peter Greaney, said these injuries were often costly due to difficulties in getting injured obese workers back on the job.

Many of the injuries involved damage to lower extremity body parts. The study shows the need for employers to initiate weight reduction and maintenance programs, according to Greaney.