It is recommended that all individuals working on offshore vessels should be examined periodically and classified as medically fit to work in the offshore environment. Nevertheless, it remains the responsibility of the vessel operator to ensure that persons going offshore meet necessary standards of health and safety. Assessment of fitness to work on offshore vessels is a complex and increasingly specialised assessment, requiring knowledge of not only general medical problems, but also occupational medical issues and a thorough knowledge of the working environment. Such assessments of fitness should be performed by a suitably qualified examining physician who will be approved by an appropriate flag state administration (IMCA itself does not approve individual doctors).

These guidelines have therefore been produced by IMCA to aid examining physicians in assessing the fitness of non-marine personnel working on offshore construction vessels. It is assumed that the marine crew will be examined to a flag state seafarer medical standard. The guidelines cover both general principles and specific medical conditions, as well addressing the particular requirements for those in specific employment groups offshore. Example screening questionnaires, examination form and certification formats are provided.