Issue Date
19 Dec 2017
Comments Due
2 Mar 2018
National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers
The National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers (the Standard) underpins a system for monitoring the health of rail safety workers and enables a consistent application of health standards across the Australian rail industry. All health assessments for rail safety workers are conducted in line with the current edition of the Standard.
Operators have a responsibility to minimise risks and protect the safety of the public, rail safety workers, their fellow workers, and the environment.
Rail operators accredit doctors and other health professionals to undertake medical assessments. The Standard helps accredited health professionals undertake those assessments.
The NTC reviews the National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers every three years.
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.
The previous edition of the standard took effect on 20 January 2013, the day the National Rail Safety Law came into operation.
Resources
The 2017 Standard came into effect on 1 February 2017.
The latest version of the 2017 Standard was published on 25 January 2017, which includes a revision to Amendment 26.5. Requirements for meeting the new colour vision standard. The amendment allows workers who were assessed prior to 2012 with a practical test, and have been working safely in the same role, to continue to perform their duties. This change is only expected to impact some rail safety workers in Queensland.
- Fact sheet: National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers
- FAQs: National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers November 2016
- Health assessment forms
Get a hard copy
You can purchase a hard copy of the Standard online via Canprint.
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.
All enquiries relating to policy issues can be directed to the NTC.
Publications
- NTC Consultation Report - Should Australia expand rail health assessments? (501 KB)
- NTC Discussion Paper - Rail worker health assessment criteria - December 2017 (950 KB)
- National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers January 2017 (4 MB)
- Review of the National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers – Final report – August 2016 (462 KB)
- National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers October 2012 (5 MB)