Offshore oil and gas workers face strict new weight limit from November 2025 as safety rules tighten

The UK oil and gas sector is set to introduce a new industry-wide weight restriction that could leave thousands of offshore workers facing dismissal unless they slim down. From November 2025, guidelines backed by Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) will require all offshore staff to weigh less than 124kg, or 19.5 stone, to remain eligible for helicopter evacuation in emergency situations.

OEUK stated that this weight limit is essential for safety, specifically to ensure workers can be rescued via helicopter winching should a serious incident occur on a platform. Industry estimates suggest around 2,500 workers currently exceed the limit, with an additional 2,500 close enough to require additional health support or weight management. This brings the total number of potentially affected employees to approximately 5,000.

Graham Skinner, head of health and safety at OEUK, confirmed on BBC Radio that the industry will actively support staff in making the necessary lifestyle changes. “Employers have a clear responsibility to help workers manage their weight during this period. There will be a comprehensive support plan to assist staff in meeting the new requirements by the deadline,” he said.

Recent NHS figures show the average British man weighs 86kg, or 13.5 stone, and is classed as obese at 93kg. The average woman weighs 73kg, or 11.5 stone. OEUK’s intervention comes as weight continues to rise in the UK, a trend mirrored among offshore staff. Mr Skinner explained that every aspect of emergency response, from lifeboats to stretchers and helicopter rescues, is affected by increasing body weights, meaning further upgrades to equipment have not solved safety limitations.

Not all parties are supportive. Andy Prendergast, national secretary at the GMB union, condemned the new rule, calling it “absurd to threaten jobs based on weight alone.” He urged oil companies to invest in promoting employee health, given the isolation and conditions offshore workers endure for weeks at a time.

The debate is expected to continue as the industry works towards enforcing the policy next November. For many, the coming year will be a time of heightened scrutiny as both workers and employers navigate the balance between health imperatives and job security amid evolving safety standards.