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North Sea oil workers They have been told that they have to lose weight if they want to maintain their weight offshore flightOr face losing your job.
Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) said that from November next year, the maximum weight of a clothed worker must be 124.7kg so that they can be pulled by a rescue helicopter in an emergency.
A coast guard helicopter can carry a maximum weight of 249 kg, but this also includes the weight of the average rescue worker (90.3 kg), their kit (5 kg) and a stretcher (29 kg).
OEUK told Independent That’s some 2,277 offshore workers Last year’s weight was above the limit of 124 kg.
The industry body said it had taken the decision on the weight limit after “thoroughly” considering options for weight limits, following an “extensive” review over the past two and a half years.
Graham Skinner, OEUK’s health and safety manager, said the organization would be “working really hard” over the next 12 months to ensure affected staff can lose weight.
mr skinner told the BBC He cannot rule out the possibility that the new security policy will lead to job losses.
“That would be the worst-case scenario,” he said, explaining that employers would now have a responsibility to try to help their employees get within the limit by next year.
He said it was important to send a clear message that would be “an inspiration for everyone to get behind the policy and weigh in in time for November next year”.
Those who do not meet the 124 kg limit will “not get medical and it will prevent them from boarding the helicopter”.
It was decided to announce the policy this year so that employers can prepare their employees, provide support and address concerns within the workforce.
The policy was developed in response to concerns highlighted by the Maritime and Coast Guard Agency and will go into effect on November 1, 2026.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme, Mr Skinner said there were an additional 2,500 offshore workers who were “below the weight limit but may require some additional support and weight management”, meaning “a total of 5,000 people who may be affected to some lesser or greater extent by the policy change”.
Unite union regional officer John Boland told the BBC that “support can be put in place” to prevent people losing their jobs.
“We are of greatest concern to individuals who are naturally large and in some cases extremely fit but are above the actual weight limit.