Clinics in Bristol and Chepstow, South Wales

OEUK-compliant examinations for offshore workers (2025 guidelines)

Online booking, appointments in 2 days, same-day certificates

OEUK medical £200;

Optionally (add on the next screen): Working at heights (£80) or ERT (£200)

OEUK (formerly OGUK) medicals are mandatory safety-critical health checks for offshore workers. The medical examination, undertaken by an OEUK-accredited doctor, confirms workers are physically and mentally fit to:

• Travel offshore
• Work in the demanding offshore environment
• Do not have a condition that may suddenly deteriorate and
• Can self-evacuate in case of an emergency.

The OEUK Certificate of Fitness to Work Offshore is valid for up to two years and is accepted in the UK, Norwegian, and Dutch offshore sectors.

Fit to Train Medicals

Required before in-water training using EBS. Included in the OEUK medical.

Emergency Response Team (ERT) medicals

For offshore emergency teams (e.g., firefighters or rescuers) to ensure the capacity to handle extra physical and psychological demands. There are two parts: an ERT medical exam (valid for up to 2 years) and an ERT Chester Step Test or Physical Capability Assessment (valid for up to 1 year).

Fit to Return Offshore Medicals

Assessment of fitness to return to offshore work after a significant illness, injury, or medical evacuation. Contact us to see if we can offer a remote assessment.

✔ Before the appointment, complete the confidential Offshore Questionnaire (sent after booking).

✔ See the Contact Page for details of our Bristol and Chepstow occupational health clinics.

✔ Bring a valid photo ID, any current prescriptions and glasses or contact lenses with your optician’s prescription if you use them. 

✔ Bring copies of your previous OEUK and Fit to Train certificates if you can.

Reschedule if you have a new cough, runny nose, sore throat, or fever.

✔ The doctor will review your medical and occupational history

✔ You will have a medical examination, including weight, height, blood pressure, and physical examination.

✔ If you are medically fit, the doctor will issue your Offshore medical certificate valid for up to 2 years.

In specific cases (e.g., diabetes, obesity, uncontrolled blood pressure), the OEUK guidelines require a letter from the GP, specialist and/or the operator’s medical advisor. This extra service will incur an additional fee.

Depending on the findings, the examining doctor may issue:

✔ An unrestricted OGUK (OEUK) Certificate: valid for 2 years. This is the most common certificate issued to healthy offshore workers.

✔ A time-limited certificate valid for less than 2 years to ensure monitoring (e.g., in offshore workers with obesity, high blood pressure, or well-controlled non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes.

✔ Conditional OEUK certificate valid only for a specific operator or installation (for offshore workers who take certain medication or have some medical conditions, e.g., blood clots, insulin-dependent diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney stones, severe asthma or allergy). The examining doctor will request a specialist report and, in certain cases, seek authorisation from the installation Medical Adviser.

✔ Deferred certificate if more information is required (e.g., in case of an infection, high blood pressure, or significant dental problems). A certificate may be issued once the condition is resolved. Restricted or deferred certificates incur additional costs.

– Certificate of Unfitness. Issued to workers with conditions that are incompatible with the offshore environment, e.g., significant psychiatric disorders, symptomatic neurological problems, severe chronic heart, lung or abdominal problems. If a worker is deemed unfit, they have the right to appeal the decision through OEUK.

10+ years of experience in OGUK and OEUK medical examinations

Dr Palka has been a registered Oil and Energy UK examining doctor since 2014. During his work in Aberdeen, he has undertaken multiple OGUK, ERT, and FTT medicals and supported other OGUK examiners. He also worked as a topside (remote medicine) physician, providing routine and emergency advice to offshore medics on 180 offshore installations in the North Sea and globally.

Consider occupational health referral

Some employers may be able to offer temporary or permanent redeployment to non-safety-critical onshore work for workers who are not fit to work offshore.

Your manager may refer you for an occupational health assessment. The occupational health professional would undertake an in-depth review and provide recommendations on workplace adjustments, temporary or permanent, depending on the condition.

The employer only receives the Certificate of Fitness to Work Offshore. All medical details are confidential and not shared with anyone without the employee’s consent. We comply with GMC, GMP, and GDPR 2018, ensuring your data is secure and processed only by authorised staff.

Useful references

HSE Information: Occupational health risks offshore

Offshore COSHH Essentials

Offshore statistics

FAQs: Offshore OEUK medical checks in Bristol