Medical conditions

boyfrombelgium · Beginner Joined: May 18, 2008 Last Visited: Aug 11, 2008

Does somebody knows what the medical conditions are to be a traindriver.

Bwana · Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 9:07 am

I know you need a pefect field of vision - that's what they knocked me back on.

I am SO moving to Victoria Street!!

Check out my pics at http://bwana.fotopic.net

Johnmc · Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 12:28 pm

Vision wise, corrective lenses are now allowed, provided that you have adequate vision when wearing them.

Colour blindness *can* be a problem. If you have red/green colour blindness and can't distinguish between the two, then that would make you a non starter. If you can distinguish between red, orange and green (even if you don't "see" them as red, orange and green), then a practical field test - QR used to call this the "flags and lights" test - will usually be given.

A great deal of train driving nowadays is Driver Only, so any pre existing condition which may cause you to collapse/become disabled on the job are barriers to being hired. The most obvious example is epilepsy (though don't quote me on mild - controlled by medication - conditions), and insulin dependent diabetes.

There was a link to a national medical standard quoted in another thread, I'll see if i can find it.

All comments made by myself are as a private citizen, and are not made on behalf of QR.

Johnmc
Never play leapfrog with a Unicorn

Johnmc · Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 12:36 pm

Ok, found it. This is the national standard for rail safety workers.

http://www.ntc.gov.au/Viewpage.aspx?page=A02209506300910020

and the standard itself, .PDF file. (I had a quick glance at it, and it is very very chewy, being intended for medical professionals. You may have to scrounge around the main site to find a "simple english" version of the standard...

http://www.ntc.gov.au/filemedia/Reports/NatHealthAssStdsRailVol2May2004.pdf

All comments made by myself are as a private citizen, and are not made on behalf of QR.

Johnmc
Never play leapfrog with a Unicorn

boyfrombelgium · Beginner Joined: May 18, 2008 Last Visited: Aug 11, 2008

I have a little abnormality on my colourvision. I see al the bright colours very good (traffic lights and train signals) butt very often I can't see "dirty" colours (dark mossgreen) very well. My question is: how is the way (wich tests?) to test colourvision? In Belgium we use the Ishihara-test.

Johnmc · Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 6:04 pm

I don't know how standardised it is but my last vision test (for QR) used Ishihara plates. Different companies may use different methods. <shrugs>

All comments made by myself are as a private citizen, and are not made on behalf of QR.

Johnmc
Never play leapfrog with a Unicorn

Gwiwer · Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 9:44 pm

Ishihara plates are pretty much the World standard now when it comes to assessing colour vision. Some deficiencies are acceptable but a red-green deficiency is almost certain to cause your application to be terminated.

Operators will now require a full medical and a history from your doctor. Train drivers are at Safety Critical Level 1 which is the highest (most stringent) level there is. Tram drivers are level 2 based upon the fact that they travel generally at much lower speeds and carry fewer passengers per trip.

You will be required to show that you have no history of sleep disorders or depression. Something like Obstructive Sleep Apnoea will not pass and neither will a track record of depression-related complaints.

If you show signs of obesity and have a history of snoring then OSA might well be looked at. If you have ever had a sleep study done which has had a positive diagnosis for a recognised sleep disorder then I suggest you look elsewhere for employment.

CEO Penhayle Bay Railway. Ferroequinologist. BA Hons (Honourable Bachelor of Aquatarts

)
The wise yet mysterious Sir Gwiwer Greybeard

boyfrombelgium · Beginner Joined: May 18, 2008 Last Visited: Aug 11, 2008

I read that when you fail on the colourvision test you can go to a practical test. What does it mean?

Johnmc · Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 4:24 am

In QR, it usually means that you go outside, and a tester shows you different coloured lights - usually through a hand lantern - and different coloured flags. (Never seen the test, so it may have other parts). If you can distinguish between the different colours, then you'll usually pass.

All comments made by myself are as a private citizen, and are not made on behalf of QR.

Johnmc
Never play leapfrog with a Unicorn

dasher · Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 1:42 pm

Gwiwer · Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 3:04 pm