The weight and size of offshore energy workers in the UK sector is increasing, which impacts adversely on the design and operation of key offshore equipment including escape and evacuation systems.
On the 13th of May 2025, CPOGS Managing Director and Principal Safety Engineer Diccen Sargent presented key information regarding the increasing size and weight of offshore personnel to the North Sea Offshore Authorities Forum (NSOAF). CPOGS were invited to present at the meeting by Inspectors of the UK Offshore Regulator, the Health and Safety Executive Offshore Energy Division.
Diccen delivered a summary presentation to NSOAF members highlighting the extent of trends in the size and weight of offshore workers and explained the design and engineering processes needed to ensure offshore escape and evacuation systems remain fit for purpose.
CPOGS engineers and statisticians have completed detailed research and analyses both for our clients and for industry bodies such as OEUK into trends in offshore worker weight. We have successfully completed several projects for our UK clients whereby existing lifeboats on their installations have been modified and adapted to accommodate bigger persons offshore ensuring compliance with the new HSE OIS guidance.
Modifying Twin Fall Lifeboats to provide wider seats and stronger seatbelts for UK Offshore Workers
If your company is struggling to comply with UK regulatory requirements to ensure that the Lifeboats and liferafts installed on your UK offshore installation are fit for purpose, then contact us. We can help you.