Remote and isolated work (RIW) employees are the backbone of critical industries, oil rigs, vessels, mining sites, and research stations.
And though many remote assets are making strides in delivering healthier menu options and exercise facilities for workers, studies continue to report negative health outcomes in this demographic. Though you’d think introducing more opportunities for improving physical fitness would be enough to boost the stats, “whole-person health and wellness” needs to be achieved.
That’s why RigRun seeks to go beyond being “that fitness thing” and instead focus on driving measurable improvements across the three key aspects of whole-person health.
Whole Person Health and Why It Matters
Everyone knows that to stay fit you should be trying to eat healthy and get plenty of exercise. However, when we’re considering whether a person is “well”, these lifestyle choices are often just the tip of the iceberg.
Whole-person health, instead, encompasses three aspects of wellbeing – physical, mental and social. The interconnectedness of these elements cannot be understated in the remote and isolated working sphere. Poor mental health and loneliness are, unfortunately, common concerns in the remote working space, and this must be addressed consistently and continually. However, including mental and social health in the mix could also be contributing to the overall physical wellness of the workers.
Take Type 2 Diabetes, for example. Caused by the lack or ineffectiveness of insulin in the body, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the condition purely comes down to physical factors. However, if we neglect our mental and social health, our bodies can become perpetually stressed, secreting hormones that elevate our blood sugar levels and insulin resistance over a long period, which can lead to the development of the condition.
When we look at RIW workers’ unique challenges, we can see how someone may become susceptible to similar conditions and diseases. On a daily basis, they face:
- Long, intense shifts, often comprising 12+ hour days for weeks at a time
- Rotating crews that lead to constant change, social isolation, and little opportunity for forging lasting connections
- Limited access to health resources we may take for granted at home
So, how can we turn this around, change the game, and ensure RigRun fitness challenges don’t just become about the exercise element?
The Social Impact of RigRun for Remote and Isolated Workers
In 2025, a lack of belonging continues to plague many workplaces, and the oil and gas industry is not immune. In fact, according to O.C. Tanner’s 2023 Global Culture Report, 29% of oil and gas workers don’t feel like part of a team, and 72% crave stronger connections.
Without a team dynamic to fall back on, the unique challenges faced by remote and isolated workers in the oil and gas sector can take their toll and affect every aspect of their wellbeing.
The social aspect of working as part of a thriving and welcoming team can have a significant impact on mental wellbeing, improving everything from workers’ sleep quality and stress levels to their communication and cognitive function.
This is not only good news for the workers themselves but also for the companies who employ and contract them. After all, a healthier, more engaged workforce leads to:
- Improved teamwork and communication across departments
- A camaraderie that pushes people to look out for each other and achieve the best possible outcomes
- A feeling of belonging that helps attract and retain talent
- Less absenteeism, injuries and accidents in the long run
When remote and isolated worksites participate in RigRun, they’re not only coming together within their own teams. They’re also joining a wider, global community of competitors striving to achieve the same goal and, often without realising it, pushing each other to succeed.
We hear countless stories of workers finding a sense of belonging through RigRun, whether it be a newbie on a worksite finding quick common ground with their new workmates (“As a new person, it was great for breaking the ice.”) or two people who would have never interacted before RigRun joining forces to earn points (“More bonding with crew we never used to socialise with.”), the opportunities for enhancing social wellbeing are endless.
And that’s because RigRun is so much more than just “that fitness thing”. It’s a chance for teams to unite, improve their whole-person health, and thrive together, no matter where they are in the world.
