National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers

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All health assessments of rail safety workers in Australia are conducted in line with the current edition of the National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers (the Standard).

Rail operators accredit doctors and other health professionals to perform the assessments. Accredited health professionals then carry out the assessments using the Standard.

Read this page carefully to understand a change to the Standard about requirements for assessing diabetic status and cardiac risk.

October 2022 update: A revised draft Standard is now open for consultation here.

Background

The Standard was developed in consultation with industry, rail unions, rail safety regulators and health professionals to provide practical guidance for rail transport operators for managing the risks posed by the ill health of rail safety workers.

We review the National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers every three years.

Latest news

New Australian Cardiovascular Risk Calculator

A new Australian Cardiovascular Risk Calculator was launched recently and is now available. The risk level obtained for an individual when using the new calculator can vary compared to the old calculator.

The cardiac risk assessment tables and action levels for category 1 workers in the 2017 edition of the National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers are based on the old risk calculator. For this reason it is important that when conducting a category 1 health assessment, that the old calculator continue to be used for the time being.

A new edition of the National Standard is expected to be published later this year or in early 2024. 

A change to the Category 1 rail safety works fasting blood tests

A recent change to the Standard approved by the Infrastructure and Transport Senior Officials’ Committee means that requirements for Category 1 rail safety workers to have a fasting blood test for assessing diabetic and cardiac risk is removed. Recent developments in medical science allows blood testing for these conditions to be done without fasting. 

The version of the Standard in the Download or buy a copy section below is the official version and will remain as such until the NTC’s current review activities have been completed.

The change in fasting blood tests is now part of the Standard, however is not currently included in the official version below. You can access the relevant pages of the Standard outlining the approved changes here.

Download health assessment forms

Risk assessment: For instructions please see Part 2 of the Standard

Health assessment forms for Category 1 and 2: For instructions please see Parts 3 and 4 of the Standard. The flowchart below explains the process and responsibilities for each of the forms.

Health assessment forms for Category 3: For instructions please see Parts 3 and 5 of the Standard. The flowchart below explains the process and responsibilities for each of the forms.

If you require the health assessment forms in Microsoft Word format, please email enquiries@ntc.gov.au.

Health assessment flowchart

Note: The above model forms are provided as a template for rail transport operators to base their administrative processes on and may be altered where required. The model forms are consistent with privacy principles and advice should be sought from the Privacy Commissioner to ensure any changes made to the forms are consistent with privacy and health records legislation.


Provisions for reporting from the health professional to the rail transport operator and the content of the Safety Critical Worker questionnaire represent standardised data collection and should not be altered unless an assessment of workers’ fitness for additional job demands is required.
 

Becoming an authorised health professional

Authorised health professionals must meet specific selection criteria which focus on the health professional's knowledge and understanding of the rail occupational environment. Queries about becoming an authorised health professional should be directed to the relevant local rail operator.

All enquiries about the use of the standard should be directed to the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator.

For enquiries relating to policy issues, email us on enquiries@ntc.gov.au.