The Newshound

Offshore firms install extra fridges for weight-loss jabs as hundreds of workers face the sack under a new weight limit

A semaglutide injection pen of the kind driving a surge in demand that waste industry experts say is leaving used needles in recycling collections.
A semaglutide injection pen of the kind driving a surge in demand that waste industry experts say is leaving used needles in recycling collections.
A North Sea oil and gas rig, where on at least one platform 60% of all staff have been taking weight-loss jabs to come in under Sunday's new helicopter evacuation weight limit.
A North Sea oil and gas rig, where on at least one platform 60% of all staff have been taking weight-loss jabs to come in under Sunday's new helicopter evacuation weight limit.

Up to 60 per cent of workers on some platforms are now using Ozempic or Mounjaro to shed weight ahead of the 19st 7lb helicopter boarding limit, which takes effect this Sunday. Graham Skinner, health and safety leader at Offshore Energies UK, said companies have been installing additional refrigerators purely to store the injections, with uptake so high it caught employers off guard. The figure for workers exceeding the limit has already dropped from around 2,200 in early 2025 to an estimated 241–300 today.

Those still above the 124kg threshold on Sunday risk dismissal or reassignment to onshore positions.

The weight cap is a pure safety measure — 124kg is the maximum a person can weigh to be winched into a rescue helicopter during a platform evacuation.

Skinner said he set an example by losing weight himself, adding he hopes 'the vast majority of workers will have found a way through this'.

MoreDaily Mail News'Ozempic rigs': Offshore firms install extra fridges for slimming jabs as workers face losing jobs under strict new weight limitBBC News - ScotlandOffshore workers turn to weight-loss jabs to meet new helicopter weight limitsThe IndependentOverweight offshore workers turn to weight loss jabs to avoid losing their jobs under new rulesEvening StandardOverweight offshore workers could lose job under new rules, industry body warnsThe Scottish SunScots offshore workers using fat jabs as many could lose jobs under new weight ruleletsrecycle.comWeight loss jabs pose growing challenge for waste sector
Read today's full feed at The Newshound →