Roustabout Jobs

Roustabouts are often employed on offshore oil or gas drilling rigs or production platforms. When working on rigs their duties include cleaning, scraping equipment, painting the deck and work areas. Good physical strength is required to offload supplies from boats and move them to storage areas. Mixing and conditioning drilling mud are also in a roustabout's job description. Workers need good practical hand skills, whilst being able to work at heights.

A new entrant to the gas and oil industry will start as a roustabout. No academic qualifications are needed, but many employers look for some relevant experience, such as work in construction, the marine industry or the armed forces. All applicants must be over the age of 18, pass a medical and obtain a Vantage card before working as an offshore roustabout.

It is paramount that all offshore workers must complete and offshore survival and fire fighting course. Roustabouts are also given training onshore, which usually lasts three weeks. Further on-the-job roustabout training will be provided, and takes place offshore on the rig or platform.

Once you have completed your roustabout training, working hours on the rig are normally 12 hours on and 12 hours off. These shifts are continuous for two, three or four weeks, depending on the geographical location of the rig. After you have finished a stint on the rig, a roustabout is given at least an equal amount of rest period at home. At many locations the time off is longer than the time on the rig.

The work is hard and physical, and workers must be comfortable in working in all types of weather. Conditions can be dirty, wet and noisy. The oil-drilling rigs are mobile structures which can accommodate up to 120 workers at any one time. Roustabouts work and live within close proximity of other offshore workers, so being a team player is very important.

A new roustabout may earn around £20,000 a year. With a few years experience, the salary may rise to around £25,000. A roustabout who shows a clear ability to demonstrate the required competencies, can gain promotion within six to eight months. Getting to and from the rig or platform involves flying by helicopter. Benefits of the job include free medical insurance, paid meals and boarding.

The oil and gas industry is a global business using advanced technology and innovative techniques to find and extract oil. The work of a roustabout and other offshore staff is important to supply energy to major industries as well as to individual homes.

There are many opportunities for a roustabout, with over 6,000 companies involved in the oil and gas industry in the UK. Around 26,000 people in the UK work on mobile drilling rigs, fixed production platforms, or floating production, storage and offloading units.

The UK oil and gas rigs are located mainly off the east coast of England and Scotland. Many employers operate overseas, so roustabouts will have the opportunity to work all over the world.