Summary

In order to complete any training or work on the railway, you must first be deemed fit to work (Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124 Competence Specific Fitness Medical Requirements).

Drugs and alcohol affect people's ability to work safely, which can be a major risk on the railway. Implementing drugs and alcohol screening allows organisations to control the risk of employees being unfit through drugs and/or alcohol whilst at work.

A Network Rail Medical Assessment will need to be completed prior to being enrolled onto the PTS course. The appointment will provide you with the required pre-requisites to commence the PTS course and work on the railway. The results of the Medical Assessment will be uploaded onto you Sentinel profile.

What to bring on the day

• Photo ID – Current Passport/Driving Licence
• Sentinel Card (If applicable)
• Name, address and telephone number of your GP
• Glasses (if worn)
• Hearing Aids (if worn)

The Drugs and Alcohol Screening

A Network Rail Drugs & Alcohol Screening will need to be completed prior to being enrolled onto any of our safety critical railway courses. The screening will provide you with the required pre-requisites to commence training and work on the railway. The results of the Drugs & Alcohol Screening will be uploaded onto you Sentinel profile (Hyperlink to Sentinel page on our website)

For the screening, you will need to provide a urine sample for analysis. This sample will then be sent to our RISQS approved UKAS accredited laboratory for testing. If you take medication on a regular basis, please ensure you note the full name of the medication(s) for consideration by the laboratory when analysing the sample.

The laboratory tests the sample for traces of:

• Amphetamines (incl. Methamphetamines)
• Benzodiazepines
• Cannabis
• Cocaine
• MDMA
• EDDP (Methadone metabolite)
• Opiates
• Propoxyphene

Results can take up to 3 days to come through, and longer if there are any contraindications. Positive samples will lead to a 5-year suspension, notified on your Sentinel profile. You will not be allowed to perform any duties on the railway infrastructure during this time period. Alcohol will be assessed using an intoximeter (breath test), and results are immediate. If you fail or refuse to provide a urine and/or breath sample, this will be treated as a positive and will be recorded on the Sentinel, if applicable.

The Medical Assessment

The objective of the medical assessment is to ensure that employers meet their duty of care, so that individuals working on the railway infrastructure are not subject to increased risk of harm to themselves, their colleagues, or in some cases members of the public, due to any foreseeable underlying medical condition.

Before starting the medical assessment, the medical professional carrying out the assessment will explain the process and how your personal information will be used and stored. You will be asked to sign a declaration and consent form. During the medical assessment, depending on the medical requirement, all or some of the below will be assessed:

• Regular Vision and Colour Vision
• Diabetes
• Balance and Mobility
• Hearing
• Height and Weight - BMI
• General Health
• Blood Pressure
• Respiratory
• Protein and Glucose

You may be asked to complete a consent form to enable Tec Training Occupational Health Services to write to your GP for additional information. Alternatively, you may be referred onward to an Occupational Health Physician if you have a condition which is more serious and may require ongoing assessment.

Results for the Drugs and Alcohol will be uploaded onto your Sentinel card/profile within 72 hours of the event. Should there be any complication in uploading the result, we will endeavour to resolve the matter within 7 working days. Positive samples will lead to a 5-year suspension, notified on your Sentinel profile.

Results for the Medical will be uploaded onto your Sentinel card/profile within 72 hours of the event. Should there be any complication with the result, we will endeavour to resolve the matter with the Medical Review Officer (MRO) within a time frame of 7 working days. If the Nurse identifies any underlying medical conditions, you will be referred to your GP for further analysis.