OEUK Medicals

An OEUK medical (formerly known as an OGUK medical) is a mandatory health assessment for anyone working in the UK offshore environments. It is carried out at IGP by an OEUK-approved doctor, who has the relevant experience in occupational health and who has undergone additional training directly relating to working offshore.

It is essential to ensure that offshore workers are physically and mentally fit to work in demanding environments, such as drilling rigs, oil platforms, and other offshore installations. It assesses whether an individual can safely perform offshore duties, including evacuation in emergencies, working in confined spaces, and handling physically demanding tasks safely in remote and challenging environments where access to medical care is limited and evacuation may be difficult.

The OEUK medical helps protect workers, employers, and the wider workforce by confirming medical fitness before deployment. Without a valid OEUK certificate, a worker cannot legally work offshore in the UK sector.

What Does an OEUK Medical Involve?

The process begins with a confidential medical history questionnaire , which asks about current and past health conditions, medications, surgeries, and lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and exercise. This helps identify any factors that could impact fitness for offshore work.

A physical examination follows, checks of body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, pulse, and general physical health are undertaken as well as careful assessments of the cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and neurological systems to confirm the worker can manage the physical requirements of working offshore.

Eyesight is tested both with and without corrective lenses, while hearing is checked to ensure compliance with industry requirements, this may include audiometry.

If the offshore worker is a crane operator, they will require a vision assessment by an optician.

A urine test may be carried out if the medical history or physical findings suggest it is necessary.

In some cases, a lung function test (spirometry) may also be performed, especially if there is a history of respiratory illness or if the employee has certain Emergency Response Team roles (ERT).

Depending on the employer’s policies, drug and alcohol screening may be included as part of the assessment.

A physical fitness test such as the Chester step test, may be required as part of the assessment to be a member of the emergency response team (ERT).

OEUK Certification

After the assessment, the doctor issues a medical certificate, usually valid for two years. In some cases, a doctor may issue a certificate with a shorter validity period if there are health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure or weight concerns. Certification can also be given as to fitness to undertake the emergency breathing system (EBS) training that is part of the Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET) / Further Offshore Emergency training (FOET), that are regulatory requirements. (Commonly known as fitness to train FTT). The certificate clearly states its expiry date, and it is the worker’s responsibility to ensure it is renewed before it lapses; otherwise, they may not be permitted to travel offshore.

It is possible to fail an OEUK medical if you do not meet the health standards required for offshore work, such as if you have a medical condition that could cause sudden incapacity or seriously affect your ability to work safely. Examples include uncontrolled epilepsy, poorly managed diabetes, severe cardiovascular disease, significant mobility issues, or untreated sleep apnoea. Also taking medications that can cause drowsiness or affect concentration at work.

Is the OEUK Medical Confidential?

OEUK medicals are confidential. Employers receive only the fitness outcome (fit, fit with restrictions, or unfit). Full medical details remain private unless the worker consents to share them. This ensures compliance with UK GDPR and medical ethics.