Lose weight or lose your job, offshore workers said

Thousands of North Sea oil workers are being told they must lose weight if they want to continue flying offshore – or risk losing their jobs.

From November next year, industry body Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) announced that the maximum clothed weight of a worker traveling at sea should be 124.7kg (19.5kg) – so they can be winched to safety in an emergency.

The Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter’s maximum winch load of 500 pounds (39 kg) is made up of this number plus the average weight of a rescue worker of 200 pounds (14 kg), a 50 pound (4.5 kg) stretcher and the 10 pound (0.8 kg) kit.

OEUK said more than 2,200 workers were currently over the weight limit and, in a worst-case scenario, jobs could be lost.

One offshore worker, Phil Perry, told BBC Scotland News he had managed to lose weight – but he feared colleagues could lose their jobs if the new rules come into force.

The new Safe Weight Limit Policy comes after the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) warned that rescue winches – which are crucial in offshore emergencies – cannot safely lift heavier people.

OEUK said the average weight of offshore workers has increased by almost 10kg (1.5kg) since 2008.

The decision to introduce a safe weight limit for offshore workers is the result of a review by industry experts over the last two and a half years.

Shoulder size requirements have already been introduced for workers traveling to and from offshore installations by helicopter.

Passengers with a shoulder width of 22 inches (56 cm) or more were classified as “extra wide” and had to sit next to a similarly sized helicopter window so they could escape.

Phil Perry, 42, from Aberdeen, weighed 129kg at one point (20th) – which would have been over the new limit.

He now weighs 118kg (18.5) and his target weight is 110kg (17th).

Mr Perry said fear of losing his job was an additional motivation to keep his weight down.

“Offshore, not many people are talking about it yet,” he said.

“You kind of have to understand that in the 70s and 80s the average person weighed about 70 kilos, and the trend is obviously increasing.”

“I think that maybe you need to do something about it because you don’t want to be the one stuck there because you’re too heavy to be lifted out.”

Mr Perry said it was possible to stay healthy while working on a platform in the North Sea.

“There are a lot of healthy people off the coast, there are gyms, you can walk on the helicopter deck, you can be fit there, I think it just depends on each individual’s personal attitude.”

“There is a wide range of fruit and healthy options but there are also crisps and sweets which doesn’t help.”

“Anyone can lose weight, the hard part is keeping it off. I was one of those people who did these crazy diets, but you can’t stop it.”

He said he started eating the right foods at the right times, adding: “I started seeing the results.”

He said he “definitely” fears the new rules will lead to job losses.

“It’s going to impact the pool that’s available for an offshore exit. There’s a lot of us out there and unfortunately it’s just that people are starting to lose their jobs, which isn’t good for anyone,” he said.

He added that it is up to both the employees themselves and the employers to make a difference.

Graham Skinner, health and safety manager at OEUK, said it was hoped the new safety policy – as part of a “robust safety culture” – would not lead to job losses, but he could not rule this out.

“That would be the absolute worst-case scenario.

“Employers will have a duty to support their employees through this and try to find sensible solutions to this, but in the worst case scenario that would be the case for some people.”

Mr Skinner described it as “really important” that there was a clear message to staff that the new rules would come into force.

“Hopefully this will be the impetus for everyone to join politics and lose weight in time for November next year,” he said.

“There are those who will have a real challenge over the next 12 months losing weight and getting under the weight limit.

“There are around 2,270 who need to lose a bit of weight to ensure they can continue to work after November next year.”

“At this point, an offshore worker who weighs more than 250 pounds will no longer receive their medical care and that will prevent them from getting on a helicopter.”

However, Mr Skinner said they were “really confident” that the “vast majority” of workers would stay under the weight limit.

He pointed to the support they would receive from their employers, the offshore operators and the offshore community itself.

“We have already heard of offshore workers offering circuit training and gym classes to workers,” he added.

“So it’s a great opportunity for the community to come together.”

John Boland, regional officer for the Unite union, said: “We hope no one loses their job as a result of this and that support can be provided to prevent this.”

“The biggest concerns we have had come from individuals who are naturally larger built and in some cases extremely fit, but are over the actual weight limit.

“These are discussions we need to have about how we can support these individuals as well.”

The binding implementation of the new directive will take place from November 1, 2026.