Offshore oil workers must lose weight or face losing their jobs under new safety measures
North Sea oil workers have been told they must lose weight if they want to continue flying offshore or risk losing their jobs.
Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) said that from November next year, the maximum weight of a clothed worker must be 124.7kg to be winched by a rescue helicopter in an emergency.
A coastguard helicopter can carry a maximum of 249kg, but must also take into account the weight of an average rescue worker (90.3kg), their kit (5kg) and a stretcher (29kg).
OEUK told Independent It was stated that the weight of approximately 2,277 offshore workers was above the 124 kg limit last year.
The industry body said it decided on the weight limit after “thoroughly” assessing alternatives to the weight limit following a “comprehensive” review over the past two-and-a-half years.
OEUK’s health and safety manager, Graham Skinner, said the organization will be “working really hard” over the next 12 months to ensure affected employees can lose weight.
Mr Skinner he told the BBC He said he could not rule out the possibility that the new security policy would lead to job losses.
“That would be the absolute worst-case scenario,” he said, explaining that employers would now have a responsibility to support their workers comply with the limits until next year.
He said it was important to convey a clear message that would serve as “an incentive for everyone to get behind the policy and lose weight in time for November next year”.
Those who do not meet the 124-pound limit “will not receive health care, which will prevent them from boarding the helicopter.”
The decision was made to announce the policy this year so that employers can prepare their staff, offer support and address concerns in their workforce.
The policy itself was developed in response to concerns highlighted by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and will come into force on 1 November 2026.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme, Mr Skinner said there were a further 2,500 offshore workers “who are below the weight limit but may need additional support and weight control”; This means “the total number of people who may be more or less affected” by the policy change is 5,000.
Unite union regional leader John Boland told the BBC that “support is available” to prevent people from losing their jobs.
“Our biggest concern was with individuals who were naturally larger and in some cases were extremely fit but were over the actual weight limit.
