A renewed medical guideline for OEUK (Offshore Energies UK)
The OEUK Medical Guidelines 2025 set the new industry standard for offshore medical examinations. Formerly known as OGUK, the organisation is now called OEUK (Offshore Energies United Kingdom), reflecting the growing importance of the offshore wind industry. Since 1 November 2025, the revised OEUK Medical Guidelines 2025 have been in effect as the official standard for offshore medical examinations in the UK sector. This page explains what has changed, what information your OEUK certificate includes, and what these updates mean for both offshore workers and employers.
All offshore medical examinations carried out after 1 November 2025 must comply with the revised OEUK Medical Guidelines 2025.
For most offshore workers, the outcome of the medical assessment will remain largely unchanged.
However, the new standard introduces greater clarity and consistency, with updated certificates, refined procedures, and new guidance on several key areas including the weight policy, medication review, vision testing for crane operators, and the assessment of Emergency Response Team (ERT) members.
1. Updated Certificates and Procedures
The revised OEUK Medical Guidelines 2025 introduce four standard types of offshore medical certificates, creating greater clarity and consistency across the industry.
The certificates are: Standard Certificate of Medical Fitness to Work Offshore, Conditional Certificate, Fitness to Train Certificate, and Fitness to Return to Work Certificate.
Each certificate clearly states that it may be declared invalid before its expiry date if there is a deterioration in health, a hospital admission or referral for further investigation, a new diagnosis, or a change in prescribed medication.
These provisions ensure that doctors, medics, and operators always have the most accurate and up-to-date medical information when assessing an individual’s fitness or responding to an incident offshore.
2. The 124 kg weight limit
One of the most significant changes in the updated OEUK Medical Guidelines 2025 is the introduction of a maximum clothed weight limit of 124 kilograms.
This limit has been set for safety reasons, taking into account helicopter evacuation procedures, lifejackets and lifeboat capacity.
Workers weighing between 115 and 124 kilograms can still be certified as fit for offshore work, but their medical certificate will be valid for a shorter period of three to six months, depending on their weight.
Above 124 kilograms, medical clearance for offshore duties in the UK sector is not possible.
This policy ensures a consistent and practical safety standard across all offshore operations
3. Medication Letters
The updated OEUK guidelines introduce two types of medical declarations designed to improve clarity, transparency, and overall quality in the medical assessment process, while maintaining full confidentiality.
The first is the general Medication Letter. This confirms that prescribed medication has been disclosed, reviewed, and taken into account during the medical examination. The declaration may be issued at the request of the operator or if the examining doctor deems it necessary. It includes the name and dosage of the medication. The information remains confidential and is not shared with the employer or agency, but the individual must present the declaration on request to the offshore medic, topside doctor, or Operator Medical Adviser (OMA).
The second is the Medical letter for Weight-Loss Medication, covering the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Ozempic, Wegovy, or Saxenda. It confirms the name and dose of the medication, tolerance, and the instruction that no dose adjustments are allowed offshore. It also states that at least three days must have passed since the second injection before travelling offshore.
At OmniHealth, both declarations are issued in accordance with the new OEUK Medical Guidelines 2025. They are given directly to the worker, remain strictly personal, and form part of the medical assessment. They are not intended for review by the employer.
4. Role-Specific Requirements
Certain offshore roles involve additional medical requirements. Within the updated OEUK standard, crane operators and Emergency Response Team (ERT) members are subject to specific assessments.
For crane operators, a statement from an optician or ophthalmologist is now a required part of the OEUK medical examination. This document confirms visual acuity (both corrected and uncorrected), visual field, and the absence of double vision (diplopia). The statement must be less than twelve months old and is added to the medical record. If corrective lenses are required, this is noted on the certificate with the remark that glasses or contact lenses must be worn while performing crane operations.
If a colour vision deficiency is detected, the certificate must state that a job-specific assessment is required for roles where normal colour vision is essential.
For members of the Emergency Response Team (ERT), the Chester Step Test remains the standard method for assessing physical fitness. The new OEUK guidelines also introduce the Safety Risk Assessment (SRA). This assesment evaluates both medical and lifestyle-related risk factors such as smoking, physical activity, blood pressure, and BMI. Based on these results, individuals are assigned a risk category ranging from A (low risk) to D (high risk).
The OEUK advises that only personnel with an A or B rating should be assigned to ERT duties, ensuring that emergency team members are physically capable of responding effectively and safely in an emergency.
Together, the Chester Step Test and the Safety Risk Assessment provide a balanced evaluation of both physical capacity and health risks, tailored to the specific demands of offshore work.
Return to work after illness or medical evacuation
Following a period of illness or a medical evacuation (medevac), an employee’s existing OEUK medical certificate becomes temporarily invalid.
Before returning to offshore duty, the individual must undergo a reassessment by an OEUK-registered doctor.
During this reassessment, the doctor determines whether the person has fully recovered and again meets the medical fitness standards required for offshore work. Only after a positive outcome is a Fitness to Return to Offshore Work certificate issued, using the official OEUK standard form.
This process ensures that no one returns to an offshore environment without a thorough and professional medical review. It safeguards not only the health of the individual but also the safety of colleagues and the overall operation.
Responsibilities for employers
Employers and crewing departments play a key role in ensuring compliance with the OEUK medical guidelines. They must verify that every employee assigned to offshore work holds a valid OEUK medical certificate issued by an approved doctor.
Before mobilisation, employers are responsible for checking the validity of the certificate, respecting the 124-kilogram weight limit, and taking into account certificates with a shorter period of validity. They must also ensure that crane operators and ERT members meet their function-specific medical requirements, and that all relevant documents—such as medication declarations and Fitness to Return to Work certificates—are handled as official parts of the OEUK documentation process
It is essential that employers work only with OEUK-registered doctors. This guarantees that all examinations, assessments and documents fully comply with the current offshore medical standard and the quality requirements of the sector.
Do you need an OEUK medical examination under the current standard?
All medicals at OmniHealth are carried out in full compliance with OEUK Issue 8 (2025), using the latest forms, weight policy, medication declarations and function-specific requirements.
Written by Sven Daam, ILT-, OEUK- and ElementNL-certified medical examiner specialising in maritime and offshore health assessments.
Safeguarding fitness for work
In addition to this examination, OmniHealth also offers a range of other essential medical assessments.
OmniHealth: Your Trusted Partner in Protecting Your Health and Safety
Monday – Friday: 09.00 – 17.00
OmniHealth provides high-quality medical care and services focused on the maritime and offshore industries. With expert examinations, consultations and necessary vaccinations, we are here for you!
Schipluidenlaan 122,
1062 HE, Amsterdam