Now it’s exercise drills offshore as rig workers’ waistlines get bigger

With their gruelling shifts, weeks of isolation and hard labour, it is one of the toughest jobs around.

But now oil rig workers are being offered exercise classes – and chips are being restricted on canteen menus – amid concerns about their waistlines.

The average weight of a rig worker has risen from 11st 8lb (73.5kg) in 1975 to 15st 6lb (98kg) in 2023, according to data from TAC Occupational Health, a healthcare provider for the offshore energy industry.

It says the growing girth of workers means lifeboats, stretchers and medical equipment have to be adjusted to accommodate them and ensure continued safety offshore.

Dr Stuart Scott, chief medical officer at TAC, said: ‘When we looked at the statistics from our clinical system in pre-pandemic 2020, we noted the average size of offshore workers had increased. Following the pandemic, the rise is even more concerning.

The proportion of offshore workers who are overweight has increased to 33 per cent

‘In 2022, just under 20 per cent of patients who attended our clinics for a medical had a BMI of greater than 30. 

‘Shoulder measurements have also increased from an average of 47.5cm (18.7in) in 2020 to 53.9cm (21.2in) in 2023.

‘These statistics may have implications for helicopter transport, lifeboats, sickbay equipment offshore – which is often not approved for people with a weight of over 130kg (20.5 stone) – and also for the health and safety of the emergency response team and stretcher bearers.

‘If you have a lifeboat rated for taking 50 people of an average weight of 100kg (15.7 stone) and all of a sudden you have an average weight that’s greater, then there are safety implications with those lifeboats. 

Daily exercise classes are being offered to offshore workers in a bid to tackle obesity  

We need to make sure that the lifeboats can accommodate even the biggest people on the platform.’

The proportion of offshore workers who are overweight has increased from 26 per cent in 2015 to 33 per cent this year. 

Men aged over 55 are most likely to have a BMI of more than 30, which is classed as obese.

Medical evacuation teams are already increasing the weight of dummies used for training scenarios to more accurately reflect emergency situations.

There has also been an effort to change meal options provided to staff offshore, including trials by some operators of limiting serving chips to once a week as well as offering daily exercise classes and health assessments.

All offshore employees also have access to gym equipment.

Dr Scott added: ‘There has been a big push trying to increase offshore fitness, often with fitness challenges against other rigs, and there are also a lot of catering companies that are now offering healthy choices. 

‘But it still comes down to the fact that encouraging people to eat and drink healthily is very difficult.’