North Sea Oil Workers Face Weight Limits for Helicopter Safety Evacuations

Summary

The article reports that thousands of North Sea oil workers are being told they must lose weight to keep their jobs, as new safety regulations from Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) will impose a maximum clothed weight of 124.7kg (19.5 stone) for workers heading offshore starting November next year. This weight limit is based on the maximum capacity of Coastguard rescue helicopter winch systems, which can only lift 249kg (39 stone) - requiring workers to be under half that weight to allow for a rescuer's weight during emergency evacuations. The policy aims to ensure workers can be safely winched to safety in emergencies, but has sparked concerns about job losses and discrimination against heavier workers.