We all know that illicit drugs and safety just don’t mix, so it makes good sense that recreational drugs cannot be taken offshore. But what about prescribed and over-the-counter drugs?
When you go for your OGUK offshore medical, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire that includes questions about your medical history. You will also be asked if you are currently taking any medications (over-the-counter or prescribed).
Honesty is always the best policy, and do remember that your occupational healthcare physician is there to advise you about any medical issues that could affect your health and safety when working offshore.
However, medical issues can arise before your next offshore medical assessment (OMA) is due, so the medic on your platform, rig or vessel needs to be kept aware of any medications you are taking.
When you travel to your place of work, all personal medications and prescribed drugs must be declared at the heliport check-in. Medications are then bagged up and sealed and given back to you to take offshore. When you arrive at your offshore destination, you need to give the unbroken sealed package to your medic.
You must remember to take a sufficient supply of your medication with you and allow for any extended stay due to bad weather. Medics keep a supply of drugs, but don’t have a complete pharmacy at their disposal.
If you bring along drugs that cannot be identified, such as diet pills or herbal medicines, they may be confiscated. If you taking these drugs legitimately, you will need to provide proof of what they are, or a prescription.
Never use another person’s medication. They have been prescribed by a doctor for a specific patient’s condition but could be harmful to other people.
If you are taking medications, you will not be allowed to work at an unmanned destination where there is no medic present.
For reasons of space, we can’t go on to write about every possible drug that you might be taking and how they can affect your ability to work offshore. However, here is some useful information about several medications:
Antidepressants: individual assessment is required. In some cases, use of antidepressants as maintenance therapy may be permissible.
Epipen: an Epipen is a disposable automated drug delivery system which is designed for self-administration of adrenaline in acute allergic emergencies (anaphylaxis). The use of an Epipen may be incompatible with work offshore, depending on the opinion of the operator’s medical adviser.
Immunosuppressants: these drugs are used to diminish the activity of the body’s immune system. They are used for various reasons, including the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease. A risk assessment needs to be made by your occupational healthcare physician regarding the possibility of increased susceptibility to infections or to other potential side-effects.
Painkillers: strong painkillers which have sedating side-effects are incompatible with work offshore. You might be taking over-the-counter painkillers and not realise just how strong they are and how they can lead to drowsiness. Not only that, but when their effects wear off, you could find yourself in pain which distracts you when using potentially dangerous equipment.
Sleeping pills: sleeping pills cause drowsiness and impaired alertness and are not permitted offshore.
Warfarin: Warfarin is an anticoagulant medication that helps prevent blood clotting and is used to treat several conditions.
Your medic needs to know if you are taking Warfarin because of the danger of an injury causing a haemorrhage due to the blood-thinning effect of the drug.
A medic will need to have the emergency treatment in place for a Warfarin-induced event and must have a supply of intravenous vitamin K to do so. In the past, there was an outright ban on those taking Warfarin working offshore, but currently, risk assessments are carried out and the operator’s medical adviser will make the decision as to whether you can be allowed to work offshore.
All the regulations regarding medications are there for your benefit and safety. The guidelines regarding prescription drugs changed in 2008 and are now less rigid and risk assessments can be carried out before a decision is made.
It’s understandable that you might be tempted not to declare the medications you are taking for fear of losing your job, but remember, safety comes first and not being honest about medications could result in you losing your life.
Dr Shazril Mokhtar is a medical adviser at occupational-health provider Abermed
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