Hundreds of North Sea workers are still too heavy for offshore helicopter travel less than two months before new rules come into force, BBC Scotland has learned. From November they should weigh no more than 19st 7Ib (124.7kg) in their clothing and footwear, so they can be winched to safety in an emergency. When the plans were announced by industry body Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) last year, they said more than 2,200 workers were above that limit.
New figures suggest up to 800 still exceed it. Jobs could be lost as a result, and an occupational health expert said some had left the offshore industry rather than lose the weight. However an employment law specialist said alternative onshore roles could also be explored by companies.
More stories from North East Scotland, Orkney and Shetland Listen to news from North East Scotland on BBC Sounds The new safe weight limit policy, external came after the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) warned that rescue winches - which are critical during offshore emergencies - cannot safely lift heavier people. The 39st (249kg) maximum Coastguard rescue helicopter winch load is made up of the maximum clothed weight plus the average 14st (90.3kg) weight of a rescue worker, a 4st 7Ib (29kg) stretcher, and the 7Ib (5kg) kit. OEUK said the average weight of offshore workers had risen by almost 1st 7Ib (10kg) since 2008.
Its definition of clothed weight is measured "according to the industry travel clothing policy for the relevant season, including shoes". The decision to implement a safe weight limit for offshore workers followed a lengthy review by industry experts. Rules about shoulder size were previously introduced for workers travelling to and from offshore installations by helicopter.
Passengers with a shoulder width of 22in (56cm) or more were classed as "extra broad" and had to sit next to a similarly large helicopter window, so they could escape. Updated figures from the industry body show about 3.4% of offshore workers weigh more than 124kg. That is down from the estimated 4.7% in 2022.
The latest figures are based on more than 35,000 offshore traveller records collected between April and August. They suggest hundreds have moved below the threshold - but hundreds also still remain above it. OEUK said it was working to maintain the downward trend, but those still over the new guidelines only now have a limited window left.
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