It is a requirement in the UK offshore oil industry that workers are medically examined to assess their fitness to work on offshore installations. Oil & Gas UK, the industry representative association, publishes the ‘Medical Aspects of Fitness for Work Offshore: Guidance for Examining Physicians’. The current edition is Issue 6, March 2008.

An Oil & Gas UK medical must be undertaken by a doctor on a list of registered doctors held by Oil & Gas UK, and RSOH doctors are registered with Oil & Gas UK for this purpose.

The offshore medical involves:

• completion of a medical questionnaire

• measurement of: - height, weight and body mass index (BMI)

- vision

- colour vision

- blood pressure

- peak flow rate (lung function)

• an audiogram (hearing test)

• a urine sample (to check for sugar and/or blood)

• a medical examination

You should bring photographic proof of identification to your medical, and be prepared to provide a specimen of urine during the medical. If you wear glasses or contact lenses please bring these with you, and be prepared to have your vision checked with and without your glasses/lenses.

Many offshore workers will also work in the Norwegian and Dutch sectors of the North Sea. Although an international agreement to recognize each other’s medical certificates exists, in practice there may still be a requirement for workers to undergo examination for issue of a Norwegian and/or Dutch medical certificate, and RSOH can undertake these examinations too.

The offshore oil industry is of course active beyond the North Sea, and many companies will send workers to many locations around the world to work. Medical requirements vary from location to location, and RSOH can assist with appropriate compliance with these.