Tuesday 1 February 2000

UKOOA Publishes Medical Guidelines for Working Offshore

Revised guidelines setting out the health and fitness requirements for working offshore in the oil and gas industry have been published by the UK Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA).

The Guidelines for Medical Aspects of Fitness for Offshore Work have been drawn up to provide guidance for doctors carrying out medical assessments of offshore workers to determine whether they have the required physical and mental attributes for work on an offshore installation. They replace guidelines which were published in 1998.

No other workplace can compare with the offshore environment, says Dr John Wils, UKOOAs Director of Operational and Technical Affairs. The remoteness and potential isolation, the storms and ocean swells, the sheer size of the installations with their numerous stairways, ladders and over-sea walkways, even the modes of transport to and from the workplace, all require a certain degree of alertness, physical mobility, co-ordination and stamina in the offshore worker.

UKOOA s policy is to require all persons designated as offshore employees to be examined on a regular basis and classified as medically fit to work offshore. The Industry has to ensure that workers do not put themselves or others at undue risk by failing to meet appropriate fitness criteria, says Dr Wils.

For that reason, every person working offshore must have a medical assessment at least every three years, depending on his or her age. These are carried out by one of over 350 doctors recommended by the UKOOA Health Advisory Committee.

The revised guidelines set out standards of good practice for the conduct and content of the medical assessments and provide a comprehensive list of specific medical conditions which may affect fitness for offshore work. Special requirements for members of fire and emergency response teams and others, such as caterers, are also highlighted. An independent review procedure has been introduced for candidates who fail to obtain medical certificates.

The guidelines were drawn up in consultation with and endorsed by the Inter-Union Offshore Oil Committee (IUOOC).

Rab Wilson, Secretary to the IUOOC, said: Constructive dialogue took place between UKOOA and the Unions to produce these guidelines. We see them as a necessary pre-requisite for those that work in the offshore environment. The introduction of the review procedure is a new and positive step forward as a result of agreements reached between the Unions and Industry.

UKOOAs Guidelines for Medical Aspects of Fitness for Offshore Work, Issue No. 4, January 2000 are available from UKOOA, 1st Floor, 30 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6NN (£25 for UKOOA members; £50 for non-members).

For more information, please call 020 7802 2400.