Oil rig worker weight loss has become a practical step for hundreds of offshore staff trying to stay eligible for helicopter flights under new limits. Graham Skinner of OEUK said the number of workers above the threshold has fallen sharply, but some could still lose their jobs if they do not get under it.
From Sunday, anyone weighing more than 19st 7Ib (124kg) in civilian clothing and footwear is banned from taking a flight to an offshore platform covered by UK safety regulations. OEUK says about 2,200 workers were over the limit when the rules were announced last year; that figure is now fewer than 250.
OEUK and the 124kg limit
The limit was set after the Maritime and Coastguard Agency warned that rescue winches cannot safely lift heavier people. The figure was worked out by adding the weight of the rescuer, stretcher and other kit to the person being lifted, which is why the cutoff sits at 19st 7Ib rather than a rounder number.
Skinner said offshore workers were already using weight-loss jabs regardless of policy. He said some firms may now be helping with the cost, after staff initially appeared to be paying themselves. On one platform, 60% of staff had been taking weight-loss drugs, and extra fridge space had been provided to keep the medication cool.
RMT criticism and job risk
OEUK says the average weight of offshore workers has come down in a very short space of time. Skinner described the drugs as something many workers had chosen to use because they can help control appetite and digestion, and he said the policy has already changed behaviour before the full November start date.
The RMT has criticised the policy, saying there was a lack of consultation and that experienced staff could be excluded from offshore operations. An occupational health expert in Aberdeen said some clients were under real stress and others had chosen to leave the industry.
Companies could offer alternative onshore roles, but Skinner warned that if someone chooses not to lose weight, there is a real possibility they could lose their job. For workers who need helicopter transport to offshore platforms, the immediate choice is now between meeting the limit, finding another role or stepping away from the sector.
