Types of Rail Safety Worker Medicals

There are three different types of Rail Safety Worker Medicals, all of which must be completed by authorised health professionals. The category of medical a worker requires is based on whether they are performing safety- or non-safety-critical work.

Rail Category 1 Medicals

This medical assessment applies to rail safety workers who perform safety critical work. The ill health or sudden incapacity of these workers may result in a serious incident affecting public safety or the rail network. This type of work includes the flagman (hand signalling), train drivers and shunters.

If an individual does not pass a Category 1 assessment, they should not be precluded from Category 3 work.

Rail Category 2 Medicals

This medical assessment applies to rail safety workers who perform safety critical work where incapacity will not impact others. This type of work includes train guards.

Rail Category 3 Medicals

This applies to workers who undertake non-safety critical work and whose health and fitness does not impact directly on the rail network. However, they need to protect their own safety and that of other workers.

Should an individual be unfit for Category 3 work, they are unfit to perform any rail safety work.

The medical information gathered during the assessment is confidential. Only the employer receives a summary of the prospective employee’s fitness.