Skirts banned from offshore flights
Thread Starter
Skirts banned from offshore flights
Skirts and dresses banned from offshore helicopter flights
Women travelling to and from offshore oil and gas installations are now banned from wearing skirts and dresses as part of new safety measures.
Passengers will also have to wear three layers of clothing under their survival suits in winter, and two in summer.
The standardised clothing policy is designed to improve the chance of survival for workers if helicopters have to ditch into the sea.
Shorts, hoodies, high-heels and sandals have also been banned.
The offshore helicopter industry has been trying to improve safety since four people died when a helicopter ditched off Shetland in August last year.
The offshore union the RMT said it welcomed the new rules because they created clarity for those working in the industry.
Passengers will also have to wear three layers of clothing under their survival suits in winter, and two in summer.
The standardised clothing policy is designed to improve the chance of survival for workers if helicopters have to ditch into the sea.
Shorts, hoodies, high-heels and sandals have also been banned.
The offshore helicopter industry has been trying to improve safety since four people died when a helicopter ditched off Shetland in August last year.
The offshore union the RMT said it welcomed the new rules because they created clarity for those working in the industry.
Nothing new about the 2 layer/3 layer policy, and in 18 years of passing-through Aberdeen I've yet to see anyone try to get through check-in in a skirt. The only new item in the instruction is that hooded jackets are to be forbidden as the excess material may distort the suit's neck-seal.
This 'news' is more about OGUK/Step Change In Safety having to be seen to be doing something. I'd rather they looked into the issue of the self-depleting air cylinders in our new life jackets, if they've got the time to spare...
This 'news' is more about OGUK/Step Change In Safety having to be seen to be doing something. I'd rather they looked into the issue of the self-depleting air cylinders in our new life jackets, if they've got the time to spare...
Last edited by diginagain; 2nd Oct 2014 at 14:19.
Thread Starter
New rules for 'larger' workers on offshore helicopter flights
New rules are to be introduced on the size of oil workers travelling to and from offshore installations by helicopter.
Passengers with a shoulder width of 22 inches or more will be classed as "extra broad" and will have to sit next to a similarly large helicopter window.
It follows a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) review of helicopter safety.
Concerns were raised about larger passengers being able to escape from a crashed aircraft quickly.
The changes come after a study revealed the average oil worker had risen in weight by close to 20% over the past 30 years.
There were concerns that size had become a risk factor in helicopter accidents, with larger workers finding it harder to leave helicopters during emergencies due to the size of the exits.
Now those classed as "extra broad" will have to sit next to a window with a diagonal width of at least 22 inches.
The offshore safety body Step Change said at least 25% of helicopter windows meet the new criteria.
It said there would be ongoing discussion about how, when and where passengers would be measured.
Les Linklater, team leader for Step Change in Safety, said: "The safety of the offshore workforce is our absolute priority and we believe this measurement criteria and strategy is the safest and simplest route to take.
"We have worked hand-in-hand with the CAA to measure the windows on every type of helicopter used in the North Sea and it is our understanding that at least 25% of windows are suitable for extra broad passengers.
"Our commitment to safety will guide our ongoing discussions as to exactly how, when and where offshore passengers will be measured."
The move follows other changes to the helicopter safety regime - including strict new clothing rules for passengers introduced last week.
Passengers with a shoulder width of 22 inches or more will be classed as "extra broad" and will have to sit next to a similarly large helicopter window.
It follows a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) review of helicopter safety.
Concerns were raised about larger passengers being able to escape from a crashed aircraft quickly.
The changes come after a study revealed the average oil worker had risen in weight by close to 20% over the past 30 years.
There were concerns that size had become a risk factor in helicopter accidents, with larger workers finding it harder to leave helicopters during emergencies due to the size of the exits.
Now those classed as "extra broad" will have to sit next to a window with a diagonal width of at least 22 inches.
The offshore safety body Step Change said at least 25% of helicopter windows meet the new criteria.
It said there would be ongoing discussion about how, when and where passengers would be measured.
Les Linklater, team leader for Step Change in Safety, said: "The safety of the offshore workforce is our absolute priority and we believe this measurement criteria and strategy is the safest and simplest route to take.
"We have worked hand-in-hand with the CAA to measure the windows on every type of helicopter used in the North Sea and it is our understanding that at least 25% of windows are suitable for extra broad passengers.
"Our commitment to safety will guide our ongoing discussions as to exactly how, when and where offshore passengers will be measured."
The move follows other changes to the helicopter safety regime - including strict new clothing rules for passengers introduced last week.
Unfortunately for most of them the broadest body part ain't the shoulders, and it's located just above the waist line (for those of you who have a dirty mind).
Several times I flew kitchen personnel that were well above 400lbs in weight.
Several times I flew kitchen personnel that were well above 400lbs in weight.
Broad bears
To take this topic a liitle bit further:
In this Article Offshore Energy it is suggested that when obese is recognised as a "handicap" the oil operators would have to accommodate.
I think this should be no problem if the operators accommodate in the same way as they currently accommodate for persons in wheel chairs, blinds and (completly) deaf. I.e. They won't pass medical testing.
If the operators and service companies would have to compensate to accommodate with higher percentage "handicapped" for onshore jobs, then they can start widening the doors and strenghtening the floors of the Offices!
SLB
In this Article Offshore Energy it is suggested that when obese is recognised as a "handicap" the oil operators would have to accommodate.
I think this should be no problem if the operators accommodate in the same way as they currently accommodate for persons in wheel chairs, blinds and (completly) deaf. I.e. They won't pass medical testing.
If the operators and service companies would have to compensate to accommodate with higher percentage "handicapped" for onshore jobs, then they can start widening the doors and strenghtening the floors of the Offices!
SLB
Skirts banned from offshore flights
BBC News - Skirts and dresses banned from offshore helicopter flights
Without skirting the issue , always thought immersion suits was always the standard wear anyhow.
Cheers
Without skirting the issue , always thought immersion suits was always the standard wear anyhow.
Cheers
So is that 22" bare, normal clothes, or suited up?
I'm a tall skinny Highlander yet 22" is worryingly close.
Presumably, this was thought up by management with shoulders like a trout?
I'm a tall skinny Highlander yet 22" is worryingly close.
Presumably, this was thought up by management with shoulders like a trout?
So is that 22" bare, normal clothes, or suited up?
Travel offshore will be business as usual, according to Step Change and Safety’s Les Linklater.
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I haven't flown to/from a rig since 1969 but in those days women were banned from rigs because a). There were no facilities for them and b). It was thought to bring bad luck!
Thread Starter
Here we go......
The drivers will be next
Oil workers measured ahead of new helicopter safety size rules
The drivers will be next
Oil workers measured ahead of new helicopter safety size rules
Offshore workers will be measured before travelling by helicopter to North Sea oil platforms from next month.
Industry safety group Step Change in Safety (SCS) said medics would begin measuring helicopter passengers at onshore medical centres and offshore platforms in February.
Plans seat offshore workers by size were announced by SCS in October 2014.
“Extra broad” passengers with a shoulder width of more than 22in will have to sit in a seat near an appropriately-sized window from April.
The move follows a review of helicopter safety by the Civil Aviation Authority which raised concerns about the about larger passengers’ ability to escape from helicopters in emergencies.
Les Linklater, Step Change in Safety’s executive director, said: "This strategy is the simplest and most effective way to make sure helicopter passengers are measured correctly, and that passengers are transported safely to and from offshore installations.
"The passenger size working group has worked with the CAA and has been informed by Dr Arthur Stewart, an expert at the Robert Gordon University.
“This measurement strategy marks the evolution of helicopter safety and is another major step towards ensuring the UK is the safest oil province in the world to work in.”
Industry safety group Step Change in Safety (SCS) said medics would begin measuring helicopter passengers at onshore medical centres and offshore platforms in February.
Plans seat offshore workers by size were announced by SCS in October 2014.
“Extra broad” passengers with a shoulder width of more than 22in will have to sit in a seat near an appropriately-sized window from April.
The move follows a review of helicopter safety by the Civil Aviation Authority which raised concerns about the about larger passengers’ ability to escape from helicopters in emergencies.
Les Linklater, Step Change in Safety’s executive director, said: "This strategy is the simplest and most effective way to make sure helicopter passengers are measured correctly, and that passengers are transported safely to and from offshore installations.
"The passenger size working group has worked with the CAA and has been informed by Dr Arthur Stewart, an expert at the Robert Gordon University.
“This measurement strategy marks the evolution of helicopter safety and is another major step towards ensuring the UK is the safest oil province in the world to work in.”
I hope they don't start putting the obese pax in the emergency exit to meet the new requirements. It would be a shame if nobody could get out because the person at the front of the line was unfit & oversize.