A man who works out in the North Sea has shared some fascinating insights into the realities of the job. Jordan Morgan, known as @jordanwelness_911 on Instagram, works on an oil rig and reportedly earns up to $200,000 a year – the equivalent of just over £150,000.
Despite the hefty salary, Jordan has shared a number of social media posts showing that life onboard the rig in the North Sea is far from glamorous. There is more to the job than meets the eye, including long working hours, supply shortages, lack of fresh air, bad smells, and limited privacy.
In one post on Instagram, Jordan said that “overtime is the norm” in his profession.
He said: “You may be asked to work beyond your shift without explanation because the situation requires intervention.” Jordan added that the crews works shifts ranging from 12 to 16 hours. There are also minimal breaks, which often leads to fatigue, stress and physical strain.
Even when the workers do get a day off, Jordan said it’s hard to relax because of the nature of the rig. “It’s impossible to fully rest because the platform simply lacks the conditions for relaxation,” he said.
Food and drink supply shortages are also common while working in the North Sea. According to Jordan, there can often be delivery delays, which means workers end up living on frozen food for prolonged periods.
Jordan also said workers in the North Sea live with a “lack of fresh air”. He explained: “The air on the platform is often stale due to poor ventilation. Combustion products and oil make breathing difficult, especially in enclosed spaces.”
Jordan added that the smell of oil and chemicals becomes the norm while on the rig. It’s so potent that “you start to smell it in your sleep”.
Finally, Jordan claims that there is a lack of privacy while working on the oil rig. He said workers are constantly under surveillance and personal space is “limited”.
He explained in a post: “There are cameras in the cabins, and everything that happens inside is under surveillance. Personal spae becomes even more limited, and the chance to be alone is a rare luxury.”
