Hundreds of North Sea workers still too heavy for new offshore weight limit
Up to 800 offshore workers still weigh over 124kg with eight weeks until the new safety rule takes effect, and the industry warns they could lose their jobs.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
New weight restrictions for North Sea offshore workers are set to come into force on 1 November, and hundreds of employees still exceed the limit, prompting warnings from industry leaders that they could lose their jobs if they do not lose weight.
The policy, introduced for health and safety reasons, sets a maximum weight of 124 kilograms (19.5 stone) for anyone flying offshore by helicopter, fully clothed. The aim is to ensure that workers can be winched to safety in an emergency. As the average weight of offshore workers has crept up over the past decade, the industry says it cannot ask rescue workers to put their own lives at risk when assisting heavier individuals.
When the rule was announced last year, an estimated 2,200 workers were over the limit. According to the industry body Offshore Energies UK, that figure has now fallen to between 500 and 800 workers, just eight weeks before the deadline. More than a thousand workers have already successfully reduced their weight to below the threshold.
The industry body has issued a fresh warning to those who have not yet started losing weight. One industry representative said: "It's absolutely worth recognising the fantastic success cases we've already had and heard about, people who are already under the weight limit. And that's great. And we know people are working hard to reach it. I think the message here is for people who haven't started yet, who think this isn't going to happen or it's going to go away, you really have to start now because with eight weeks to go, it will still be possible, it will be hard, but we'd like to have you as part of our workforce."
Reports suggest some workers are resorting to extreme measures, including fasting and weight loss injections, in a bid to meet the deadline. While these actions have raised concerns about rapid weight loss, the industry is emphasising that there is still time, though not much, to comply.
Workers themselves have expressed anxiety about the situation. One offshore worker, who is close to the limit, said: "I'm concerned because I am just on the cusp of the weight limit so I'll have to monitor my weight regularly, but some of my colleagues have already spoken to me about it and they're over the limit so they are very concerned and they're going to have to make lifestyle changes in order to keep their jobs."
The policy is designed to make helicopter evacuations safer, but it carries a stark consequence for those who fail to comply. The industry says losing weight is the only way to stay in the workforce, and the clock is ticking.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One |
|---|---|
| Between 500 and 800 workers still weigh over 124 kilograms with eight weeks to go. | |
| Some workers are fasting or using weight loss injections to lose weight quickly. | |
| The new weight rules are for health and safety reasons, because heavier workers may not be winched to safety in an emergency. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This is the main lunchtime news bulletin, with an anchor introducing the story and a reporter, Rebecca Curran, explaining the rules in detail. It places emphasis on the reduction in the number of overweight workers from 2,200 to between 500 and 800, and highlights extreme measures such as fasting and weight loss injections. The tone is factual but urges urgency.
- “It's absolutely worth recognising the fantastic success cases we've already had and heard about, people who are already under the weight limit.”
- “I think the message here is for people who haven't started yet, who think this isn't going to happen or it's going to go away, you really have to start now because with eight weeks to go, it will still be possible, it will be hard, but we'd like to have you as part of our workforce.”
This is the main evening news bulletin, with a shorter lead-in. It highlights the potential for workers to be 'branded too heavy to work on the rigs' and includes a direct warning that workers could lose their jobs. The report features a worker's personal concern and stresses the countdown to the November deadline. The tone is more urgent and personal than the lunchtime version.
- “That is the ultimate outcome for individuals, but we are hoping that as many as possible will be able to continue to Contribute to this excellent industry”
- “I'm concerned because I am just on the cusp of the weight limit So I'll have to monitor my weight regularly, but some of my colleagues have already Spoken to me about it and they're over the limit So they are very concerned and they're gonna have to make lifestyle changes in order to keep their jobs”
This segment appears in a news and weather bulletin, with a brief mention before the weather. It uses the same report as the previous bulletin but frames it as 'new rules which are about to come into force' and repeats the key warning about job loss. The tone is similar, with a focus on the human impact on workers.
- “That is the ultimate outcome for individuals but we are hoping that as many as possible will be able to continue to contribute to this excellent industry.”
- “I'm concerned because I am just on the cusp of the weight limit so I'll have to monitor my weight regularly but some of my colleagues have already spoken to me about it and they're over the limit so they are very concerned and they're going to have to make lifestyle changes in order to keep their jobs”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.