Rail Industry Medicals
The category of medical that you will need to work on or around a railway is wholly dependant on what it is that you will be doing.
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Category 3 medicals are generally required for those working on or around the railway itself. However, those holding a category 3 medical are unlikely to be in a position to put an active train at risk of danger. Generally individual workers, cleaners and other staff will only require this category of medical and carries the lowest medical standard.
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Category 2 medicals are required for those who will be operating on trains or rail side equipment but will never be alone in that role and will always have someone available who will be able to intervene in the rare case of a medical emergency. Individuals holding a category 2 medical may include ticketing inspectors, engineers or others who have the potential to operate a locomotive but not independently, or who will only be operating off of active lines such as on shunt lines.
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Category 1 medicals have the strictest medical requirements and are generally held by those who will independently operate locomotives or large equipment that may obstruct an active line, risking derailment or other catastrophic failure.
Also holding this level of medical will be flag persons who will need to be present to overwatch rail works and provide safety for those within the designated work area.
Most often, an employer will notify an employee or contractor as to what level of medical they will require.
What Do I Need To Do?
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In the case that you have been referred to myself though another service provider, they will sometimes direct you through most of the testing that may be required before attending your medical. This can include a physio, exercise physiologist or occupational therapist run physical capacity assessment, hearing, vision, drug and alcohol screens and or spirometry. You will then be directed to us for a medical assessment which may include blood testing for glucose and cholesterol, and possibly an ECG
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If you are attending us direct, our helpful reception staff will provide you with details and referrals for any additional testing that needs to be done prior to your medical assessment.
We can conduct most screening that needs to be done on site on the day, including ECG, visual and hearing assessments and so on.
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It is okay if you are unable to get all tests such as blood tests done before your appointment but we will not be able to complete and send off your final assessment until all results have been reviewed.