Graham Skinner OEUK - Too Heavy to Work Offshore? The 124kg Rule Explained

A new offshore policy is coming… and it’s already dividing the industry.

From November, any worker over 124kg won’t be allowed to travel offshore. Simple rule. Massive consequences.

In this episode, I sit down with Graham Skinner from Offshore Energies UK to break it all down.

Where did the number actually come from? Why now? And what happens to the people who can’t meet it?

We get into everything:

• The real reason behind the 124kg limit • Why rescue helicopters are at the centre of it • The challenges of evacuating larger casualties offshore • Why fitness doesn’t matter… only weight • Concerns around fairness, job security, and timing • Whether this could spread to wind and other industries • The reality behind “just upgrade the equipment” • And what support workers will actually get

This isn’t a simple conversation.

It’s safety vs livelihoods. Policy vs reality. And a decision that could impact thousands of offshore workers.

You might not agree with it. You might not like it.

But it’s coming.

00:24 Who is Graham Skinner and his offshore background 01:12 The 124kg rule explained 03:06 Why 124kg? The real reason behind the number 04:53 When the industry realised weight was a problem 06:18 Consultation with unions and operators 06:56 Industry reaction and worker response 08:22 Union concerns and fairness 09:07 Legal challenges and compliance 09:49 What about big, fit workers? 11:17 Why fitness doesn’t matter, only weight 12:46 Why not upgrade rescue equipment? 15:00 Limits of helicopters, stretchers and systems 16:06 Is the winch really the main issue? 18:22 Why oil and gas first and not wind or marine 20:33 How many workers will actually be affected 22:17 Job security concerns in a struggling industry 23:20 Is now the wrong time to introduce this policy? 25:35 Offshore food, fitness and weight loss challenges 28:35 What operators are doing to help 29:52 Is this really about money? 30:38 Why the industry didn’t act sooner 31:53 Why the rule only applies going offshore 33:36 Why not in Norway or other regions 34:35 Are there any exemptions? 34:54 Extreme scenarios and operational decisions 37:04 Weight loss drugs and new health risks 40:35 Is the offshore workforce unhealthy? 41:20 Impact on long term offshore workers 43:03 Will the rule change in the future? 43:45 Is the policy unfair? 44:31 Will it definitely go ahead? 45:24 What happens to workers who can’t meet it 46:59 Long term vision for the policy 48:14 Will operators be held accountable 49:04 Graham’s proudest career moment 50:27 Final thoughts and real industry concerns

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