Rail Safety Worker Medicals
  • Category 1 Rail Medical
  • Category 2 Rail Medical
  • Category 3 Rail Medical
  • Authorised health professionals
  • Medicals available in Australia and New Zealand

When do you need a rail medical?

Working on or around railways can be highly dangerous. Rail medicals are one way to minimise risk to the general public, workers and the environment. The National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers describes when a rail medical is needed, how often the medical is needed and who can perform the medical.

WHA Assessors who perform rail medicals are trained medical and health professionals that meet the requirements of the National Standard, including understanding the occupational environment of working on or near railways. They are trained in identifying conditions that may put a worker or others at risk.

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Rail Medical Categories

Rail CAT 1 Medicals  

For workers who undertake safety critical work and whose ill health may result in sudden incapacity or collapse leading to a serious incident affecting public safety or the rail network. 

Rail CAT 2 Medicals

For workers who undertake safety critical work but where sudden incapacity will not impact on the safety of the public or rail network. 

Rail CAT 3 Medicals 

For workers who undertake non-safety critical work and whose health and fitness does not impact directly on the rail network. 

WHA provides Rail Safety Worker Medicals all around Australia and New Zealand.

WHA's national network of over 300 WHA and affiliate partner clinics makes it easier to get assessments where needed.

Download Rail Medical Brochure

FAQ's about Rail worker medicals

Rail Medicals provide rail industry employers with the confidence that their workers are fit to safely perform their roles, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries. These assessments help ensure compliance with national safety standards, and industry-specific regulations. By identifying health risks early, Rail Medicals also support long-term employee wellbeing and productivity, while fostering a safer working environment and mitigating potential liabilities.

Rail Medicals play a crucial role in maintaining workplace safety by assessing employees’ physical and mental fitness to perform safety-critical tasks. These assessments help prevent incidents caused by medical conditions that could impair a worker’s ability to operate machinery, manage rail operations, or respond effectively in emergency situations. By ensuring that all employees meet the health and safety standards required for their roles, Rail Medicals help create a safer environment for workers and passengers alike.

Rail Medicals are categorised based on the safety-critical nature of the role:

Category 1 Rail Medicals are for roles involving high levels of safety responsibility, such as operating trains or controlling rail traffic. These assessments are the most comprehensive, evaluating both physical and mental health.
Category 2 Rail Medicals apply to roles that are safety-critical but do not require a high level of psychometric assessment, such as maintenance tasks. These assessments ensure that workers are fit to safely perform their duties.
Category 3 Rail Medicals are for non-safety-critical roles where workers are exposed to a rail environment. These assessments focus primarily on ensuring that employees can work safely near rail operations without posing a risk to themselves or others.