Offshore workers face 124kg limit from Sunday; hundreds may still be over it

Centre · 1From Sunday, anyone weighing more than 124kg (19st 7lb) in civilian clothing and footwear will be banned from flying to an offshore platform covered by UK safety regulations. 1 Centre · 1The trade body Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) is bringing in the guidelines from November. It says the limit is needed on safety grounds, because 124kg is the most a person can weigh when winched from a platform into a helicopter during an emergency evacuation. 2 Centre · 1According to the BBC, the policy followed a warning from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency that rescue winches cannot safely lift heavier people. The figure was set after factoring in the weight of the rescuer, stretcher and other kit. 1

Centre · 2OEUK says about 2,200 workers were over the limit when the policy was announced, and that the number has since fallen. The Evening Standard reports a figure of 840 earlier this year, with an estimated 241-300 still projected to be over the limit when the policy starts. The BBC reports fewer than 250. 2 1 Centre · 2OEUK health and safety leader Graham Skinner said some of those still over the limit may no longer work offshore in the UK, or may be moved to onshore roles by their employers. He added that anyone who has chosen not to lose weight faces "a route out of employment" and, in the worst cases, could lose their job. 2 1 Centre · 1The BBC reports that hundreds of offshore workers have used weight-loss jabs to meet the limit. OEUK told BBC Scotland News that on one platform 60% of staff had been taking weight-loss drugs, and extra fridge space was provided to keep the medication cool. Skinner said workers appeared at first to be paying for the drugs themselves, and that some firms may now be helping with the cost. 1

Centre · 1Other support includes gym equipment and healthier food options. Workers will be asked to declare that they are under the limit, and this will be checked at the heliport. 1 Centre · 1Skinner said the industry had previously adapted equipment to larger workers, for example by making lifeboats bigger and seating larger workers next to the largest helicopter windows. He called this "addressing certain symptoms". He said the limit would benefit "all aspects" of life-saving equipment, and could reduce medical evacuations, which in 2025 were 78% for health-related reasons such as heart attacks and strokes. 2 Centre · 1The BBC says the average weight of offshore workers has risen by almost 10kg since 2008. Skinner also cited confined-space working and the ability to exit a helicopter quickly as safety reasons, but said the actual number was driven by the winches' lifting capacity. 1

Centre · 2The RMT union has criticised the policy. It says it could give employers a "convenient mechanism" to dismiss workers without proper redundancy procedures or compensation. General secretary Eddie Dempsey said safety must be the priority but policies must be proportionate, evidence-based and developed through consultation, and called on OEUK to withdraw the policy. The BBC reports the union also claims a lack of consultation and says experienced staff could be excluded. 2 1