OEUK 2025: Return to Work after Illness or Medical Evacuation
Under the updated OEUK Medical Guidelines – Issue 8 (2025), any worker who has been medically evacuated (medevac) from an offshore installation, or has been absent due to illness or injury, must undergo a Return-to-Work (RTW) assessment before resuming offshore duties.
The OEUK return to work 2025 guideline ensures offshore workers are medically fit before resuming duties and ensures that no one returns offshore without a professional medical review by an OEUK-registered doctor. It keeps each offshore medical certificate accurate and up to date, helping to protect both the individual and their colleagues at work.
Why this assessment matters
Previously, offshore workers could return to duty on the basis of a valid OEUK medical certificate, even after serious illness or surgery.
Under the new guideline, that uncertainty no longer exists. After a medical evacuation or period of illness, the certificate is considered temporarily invalid until a new Return-to-Work certificate has been issued.
This system ensures that every worker’s medical fitness is properly reviewed before returning to the offshore environment, promoting consistency and safety across the sector.
New requirements after illness or injury
A OEUK return to work assessment is required for any worker who has been medically evacuated (medevac) from an offshore installation, has been absent due to illness or injury, or has undergone major surgery or hospital treatment.
It also applies if a new medical diagnosis could affect the worker’s fitness for offshore duties.
Even if the original OEUK medical certificate is still valid, it cannot be used until the individual has been re-assessed and confirmed medically fit to return offshore.
What the OEUK return to work assessment involves
A OEUK return to work consultation is not a full OEUK medical examination, but a focused assessment addressing the specific reason for absence.
During the consultation, the OEUK-registered doctor reviews:
the nature and cause of the illness or injury,
recovery and current medical condition,
any new or ongoing medication, and
whether the worker safely meets the fitness requirements for offshore work.
If the doctor is satisfied that the recovery is complete and the individual meets the required standard, an official Certificate of Fitness to Return to Offshore Work is issued.
This is the standard OEUK form used to formally confirm medical fitness..
The meaning of the certificate
The Return-to-Work certificate confirms that the individual is medically fit to resume duties. Once issued, it also reinstates the validity of the original OEUK medical certificate
The assessment can have four possible outcomes: fit for full offshore work, fit for restricted or modified duties, fit for onshore work only, or unfit to return at this time. Any restrictions are clearly noted on the certificate to ensure clear communication between the worker, employer and medical teams.
Who can issue the certificate?
Only a OEUK-registered examining doctor is authorised to issue a Return-to-Work certificate. Assessments carried out by other doctors, such as company physicians or general practitioners, do not meet the requirements of the OEUK guidelines and are therefore not valid within the offshore medical system.
This policy ensures a uniform and verifiable medical standard across the offshore sector, with every assessment performed according to the same recognised procedures and quality criteria..
Employer responsibilities
Employers and crewing departments are responsible for ensuring that all offshore personnel hold valid OEUK medical certificates before being assigned to duty. A Return-to-Work certificate is only required following a medical evacuation, a period of illness, or another medical event that could affect fitness for offshore work. Workers returning from regular leave or rotation periods do not need an RTW assessment.
Before travel to the installation, employers must verify that both the original OEUK certificate and, where applicable, the Return-to-Work certificate are valid. These documents must be securely stored with the worker’s medical file and accessed only by authorised medical or personnel management staff.
Information about medical events or treatment may only be shared with the company’s designated occupational-health provider and must never be disclosed to other operators or third parties without the employee’s consent.
This approach ensures compliance with the OEUK guidelines while maintaining strict medical confidentiality.
OEUK return to work assessments at OmniHealth
At OmniHealth, all OEUK return to work assessments are carried out in full accordance with the OEUK Medical Guidelines – Issue 8 (2025). Each consultation focuses specifically on the reason for absence and results in an official OEUK Return-to-Work certificate once the worker is declared medically fit.
Depending on recovery progress, an appointment can often be arranged at short notice.
If an employee has been absent due to illness, injury or a medical evacuation, the required Return-to-Work assessment can be easily arranged through OmniHealth..
Please contact us for more information or to schedule your OEUK medical examination.
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 medical, OmniHealth also offers a range of other medical examinations
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