Monday 21 April 2008

Oil & Gas UK Launches New Risk-based Medical Guidelines Aiming to Keep More People in Employment

Oil & Gas UK today (22 April 2008) publishes its revised medical guidelines which set out good practice for assessing the health of those working or intending to work offshore in the UK. The guidelines have been completely re-written to reflect a new approach which aims to match a person's medical fitness with their particular work activity. This allows for a far more flexible, risk-based approach.

Chris Allen, HSSE director with Oil & Gas UK, said: "The confirmation of an appropriate level of fitness is essential in our industry because of the nature and location of work on offshore platforms. It is the aim of occupational medicine to allow a person to continue work wherever possible and the revised guidelines consider the interaction between a worker, the environment and medical condition to gain a better understanding of an individuals general health and well-being. Previous editions of the guidelines did not determine the risks posed by offshore work and the worker's health status on an individual basis, but were based on general rules and assumptions. The new updated guidelines focus on a risk based assessment on a case by case basis and are hence beneficial for both the worker and the employer."

The new guidelines will feature two brand new sections on organ transplants and allergies together with substantially revised sections on psychiatric disorder, endocrine disorders, obesity, alcohol dependence and drug abuse and medication.

Hard copies or CD Roms of the guidelines can be purchased from the Oil & Gas UK website: www.oilandgas.org.uk

For further information, please contact: Britta Hallbauer Oil & Gas UK Media Relations              3^rd Floor, the Exchange 2                                        62 Market Street Aberdeen AB11 5PJ   Tel:      01224 577331 Fax:     020 7802 2401 Email: bhallbauer@oilandgasuk.co.uk Mob:   07891769113