RSSB Colour Blindness Study for Train Drivers

[gerg]

I am currently awaiting a medical with SouthEasten having successfully passed my tests and VSE.

I was flagged for colour deficiency when I was 10 and anxious the medical will find me unfit, despite it never affecting my daily life.

Is anyone on the inside of SouthEastern, or other TOC’s, aware of whether the secondary testing that the RSSB study suggested, has been rolled out into medicals yet?

The findings were that people with minor, non safety compromising deficiencies were being unfairly struck out of the process by the traditional Ishihara test, thus a secondary process to test severity should be adopted.

 

[The Middle]

The relevant RIS has been published now but can't say if the medicals have been updated.

RIS-3789-TOM Iss 1 - Medical Fitness Assessment

This document sets out requirements and guidance for the management of medical fitness assessment for safety critical workers on the GB mainline railway.

www.rssb.co.uk

 

[43066]

I am currently awaiting a medical with SouthEasten having successfully passed my tests and VSE.

I was flagged for colour deficiency when I was 10 and anxious the medical will find me unfit, despite it never affecting my daily life.

Is anyone on the inside of SouthEastern, or other TOC’s, aware of whether the secondary testing that the RSSB study suggested, has been rolled out into medicals yet?

The findings were that people with minor, non safety compromising deficiencies were being unfairly struck out of the process by the traditional Ishihara test, thus a secondary process to test severity should be adopted.

For what it’s worth, I’ve attended two driver medicals in the last six weeks (one new joiner medical for my new employer, one periodical at my current operator), and both involved the standard Ishihara test.

Whether any changes have filtered through is really a question for occupational health at whichever operator you’ve applied to.

 

[380101]

For what it’s worth, I’ve attended two driver medicals in the last six weeks (one new joiner medical for my new employer, one periodical at my current operator), and both involved the standard Ishihara test.

Whether any changes have filtered through is really a question for occupational health at whichever operator you’ve applied to.

The new standards for colour deficiency testing only come into play if you fail the normal Ishihara plate test. Most TOCs should be in the process of ensuring their medical standards are updated to reflect the change. It's certainly been raised in my TOC.