Offshore workers turn to weight-loss jabs to meet helicopter weight rules

ByRachel BellBBC Scotland NewsReporting fromAberdeen and Calum WatsonBBC Scotland News

Hundreds of offshore workers have been using weight-loss jabs to help meet maximum weight rules for helicopter flights due to come into force next week.

From Sunday, anyone weighing more than 19st 7Ib (124kg) in civilian clothing and footwear will be banned from taking a flight to an offshore platform covered by UK safety regulations.

When the new rules were announced last year, about 2,200 workers were over the limit but that figure has now fallen to fewer than 250, according to Offshore Energies UK (OEUK).

The industry body told BBC Scotland News that on one platform, 60% of staff had been taking weight-loss drugs and extra fridge space had been provided to keep the medications cool.

The average weight of offshore workers has risen over recent decades, and increased by almost 1st 7Ib (10kg) since 2008.

The new weight limit policy came after the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) warned that rescue winches - which are critical during offshore emergencies - cannot safely lift heavier people.

The figure was decided upon after factoring in the weight of the rescuer, stretcher and other kit that would add to the combined total.

OEUK health and safety manager Graham Skinner said a range of measures were being used to help offshore workers manage their weight, including gym equipment and healthier food options.

Alongside those, he said many had had chosen to make use of the latest medical advances in controlling appetite and digestion.

"What we know is that offshore workers are using weight-loss jabs regardless of the policies. Last year we saw in some cases 60% of workers turning up with weight-loss jabs," he told BBC Scotland News.

"That's brought our average weight down in a very short space of time. I think that's very common in society and it can potentially be a really useful tool if somebody's got a lot of weight to lose it can get them in a good place."

He said initially staff appeared to be funding the medication themselves, although he thought it possible that some firms were now supporting them with the costs.

Could some workers lose their jobs?

The weight-limit policy has been criticised by the RMT union, external which claimed there had been a lack of consultation, and that it could lead to experienced staff being excluded from offshore operations.

Earlier this year, BBC Scotland spoke to one occupational health expert in Aberdeen who said some clients were "really stressed" by the new rules while others had chosen to leave the industry.

Companies could offer staff alternative onshore roles but Skinner warned: "If somebody has chosen not to lose weight then there's a real possibility they could lose their job."

He said there were a number of safety reasons for having weight-limit controls such as working in confined spaces or ability to quickly exit a helicopter - but the actual numbers had been driven by the lifting capacity of the winches.

"It's the same winch on all search and rescue helicopters and if somebody needs to be rescued due to a health or safety incident the winch has limitations and we can't allow people to exceed those," he said.

Workers will be asked to declare if they are under the weight limit and this will be checked at the heliport.

He said employers in the industry had been working "really hard" to ensure as many staff as possible complied with the new rules and he hoped the number of staff over the weight limit could be reduced still further.