Thousands of offshore workers in the UK face potential job loss if they fail to meet new weight requirements by November 2026. Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), the industry trade body, is introducing a weight limit of less than 124kg to ensure worker safety during emergency evacuations.
Approximately 2,500 workers currently exceed the limit, with another 2,500 potentially requiring weight management support. Graham Skinner, OEUK's health and safety manager, told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that affected workers will receive comprehensive support. «Those people will be really supported by the offshore community and their employers during that time», he said.
The new guidelines address critical safety concerns around helicopter winching during emergencies. Skinner explained on the programme that «our population in general is getting heavier, and that is reflected in the offshore population». Rising weights create challenges for safety systems including lifeboats, stretchers and helicopter rescue operations.
Support and consequences
Employers will have a duty to help workers meet the new requirements. «We have got quite a comprehensive plan to manage people's weight, so we will work really hard over the next year to make sure people can lose weight that are above the weight limit», Skinner said. However, he acknowledged that in «the very worst cases» job loss remains a possibility for those unable to comply.
The industry has worked on solutions for two-and-a-half years. Previous measures included upgrading lifeboats and introducing broader categorisation for helicopter passengers, but Skinner noted these addressed symptoms rather than the root cause. The weight limit represents the only viable long-term solution to ensure all personnel can be safely evacuated in emergencies.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
