Guidelines for Authorised Health Professionals Conducting Health Assessments for Rail Safety Workers
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Guidelines for Authorised Health Professionals conducting Health Assessments for Rail Safety Workers Annexe to Code of Practice for Health Assessment and Certification for Rail Safety Workers Draft Version for Industry Comment May 2003 Safety Branch Department of Infrastructure Victoria Department of Infrastructure Annexe to the Code of Practice for Health Assessment and Certification for Rail Safety Workers GUIDELINES FOR AUTHORISED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS CONDUCTING ASSESSMENTS FOR RAIL SAFETY WORKERS Safety Branch Department of Infrastructure 20 May 2003 Working Draft Version for Industry Comment Acknowledgements This document, Guidelines for Authorised Health Professionals Conducting Assessments for Rail Safety Workers, accompanies the Code of Practice for Health Assessment and Certification for Rail Safety Workers and was researched and developed on behalf of the Department of Infrastructure by: Dr Bruce Hocking FAFOM. FAFPHM. FRACGP. Fiona Landgren B Pharm, Grad Dip Hosp Pharm. Assistance was provided by: Rob Blackwell Works Infrastructure Dr Jeff Brock Australian Transport Safety Bureau Brian Busch Australian Rail Track Corporation Gina Ciccone Freight Australia Malcolm Davidson President, Association of Tourist railways Trevor Dobbyn State Branch Secretary, Rail, Tram and Bus Union (Vic Branch) Warren Doubleday Council of Tramway Museums of Australasia David Edwards Pacific National Catherine Herriman State Rail Authority of NSW Jeff Jaraie Manager Rail Safety, Yarra Trams Brian McIntosh Department of Infrastructure Marc Marotta Secretary Rail, Tram and Bus Union, Locomotive Division Michelle Nation Connex Trains Adrian Ponton Freight Australia Jan Powning (Project Manager) Department of Infrastructure Susan Price Pacific National Geraldine Sharman Department of Infrastructure Craig Tooke President, Council of Tramway Museums of Australasia Dr Stuart Turnbull National Express (Bayside) Dr Anthony Webster Health Services Australia Julie Wills State Rail Authority of NSW Dr Paul Woodhouse Australian Medical Association (Victoria) Version: Working Draft Status: Industry Review Issue Date: 20 May 2003 Closure Date: 29 August 2003 Authorised: General Manager Safety Foreword I am pleased to release these draft Guidelines for Authorised Health Professionals Conducting Health Assessments for Rail Safety Workers. The document is an Annexe to the draft Code of Practice for Health Assessment and Certification of Rail Safety Workers which outlines the systems underpinning a rigorous approach to monitoring the health and fitness of rail safety workers. These Guidelines contain the medical standards, criteria and tests necessary to perform assessments. Both documents are the result of extensive research and consultation with rail and health industry specialists. They reflect recent advances in medical knowledge, the current rail industry environment and changes in anti-discrimination and privacy legislation. A reference paper entitled Development of Medical Standards for Rail Safety Workers provides background to the development of the Code and the Guidelines and is also attached. The Code of Practice and Guidelines are in working draft form for industry comment. Train and tram organisations accredited to operate in Victoria are invited to trial the draft before its intended adoption on 29 September 2003 as a code of practice under the Transport Act 1983. During this time, comments and feedback are invited from all stakeholders. Refinement will continue, especially in the application of risk analyses and Code requirements to tourist and heritage trains and trams. The closing date for comment is 29 August 2003 and advice for commenting is included with these Guidelines. Comments will be reviewed by the Industry Reference Group that has overseen the development of this package. The legal status of this package once adopted as a code of practice, is explained in the introductory section of the document. A code of practice provides practical guidance for accredited rail organisations to meet the obligations of an Act or regulations. Compliance with a code is not mandatory. An accredited organisation can meet its obligations in another way, provided it fulfils the requirements of the Act or regulations. As a legislative instrument, codes of practice are new to public transport safety, but they have much to offer the industry as a flexible advisory document. Their introduction provides for more informed decisions about safe operations and ensures greater consistency in how industry operators implement safety management systems. Such consistency is vital for rail operations due to track interaction between different operators and other transport modes. The Department has been fortunate therefore that specialist consultant Dr Bruce Hocking and his team have recently reviewed the national medical standards for commercial vehicle drivers for the National Road Transport Commission. This has ensured the medical standards for rail safety workers are consistent and comparable where appropriate. To encourage national adoption of the Code, the Department will liaise closely with State and Territory Rail Safety Regulators, the National Road Transport Commission’s proposed rail reform agenda and other interstate organisations. During this period of trialing and industry comment, accredited rail organisations are encouraged to introduce necessary administrative changes to support the new health assessment system. This would include the authorisation of health professionals under the new system. Where required, rail organisations may call on the Department of Infrastructure Safety Branch for assistance with briefings and information for health professionals to help with this process. I look forward to receiving your support for the successful introduction of this important safety initiative. Yours sincerely Colin Andrews General Manager Safety 20 May 2003 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................7 1. Purpose of the Guidelines .....................................................................................7 2. Users of the Guidelines .........................................................................................7 3. Application andAuthority .......................................................................................7 4. Scope of the Guidelines.........................................................................................7 5. How to use the Guidelines.....................................................................................8 6. Interface with Other Health and Human Resources Programs..............................8 PART A – HEALTH ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS ...........................................10 1. Authorisation of Health Professionals Conducting Health Assessments of Rail Safety Workers ....................................................................................................10 2. Responsibilities and Relationships ......................................................................12 3. Workers Who Require a Health Assessment ......................................................14 4. Matching the Level of Health Assessments to Each Risk Category ....................17 5. Types of Health Assessments Required..............................................................17 6. Procedures for Conducting Health Assessments ................................................22 7. Case Studies.......................................................................................................29 PART B – RAIL SAFETY WORKER TASKS ...........................................................34 1. Train Operations..................................................................................................34 2. Tram Operations..................................................................................................38 3. Tourist and Historical Rail Operations .................................................................39 PART C – MEDICAL STANDARDS .........................................................................41 PART C1 - MEDICAL CRITERIA FOR SAFETY CRITICAL WORKERS.................42 1 ALCOHOL............................................................................................................42 2 ANAESTHESIA....................................................................................................45 3 CANCER..............................................................................................................46 4 CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES ........................................................................47 5 DIABETES ...........................................................................................................55 6 DRUGS – ILLICIT ................................................................................................57 7 DRUGS – PRESCRIPTION AND OVER THE COUNTER (OTC) .......................60 8 EPILEPSY ...........................................................................................................63 9 GASTROINTESTINAL AND HEPATIC DISORDERS .........................................67 10 HEARING ............................................................................................................69 11 HIV / AIDS ...........................................................................................................71 12 METABOLIC AND ENDOCRINE DISORDERS...................................................72 13 MUSCULOSKELETAL