Having conducted a number of health surveillance checks with employees reports have come back detailing at least two employees have a colour vision defect and that we should follow this up through a risk assessment. Whilst I like to think I am fairly proficient, this one has me stumped. Am I to look at the activities that specifically involve them having to distinguish colour, ie painting, operating controls etc, that may involve a greater risk? Or is it more involved than that? I would appreciate your comments Thanks

Afternoon, My previous employment required compliance with Dock Regulations 1988 which required certain staff members to conform to certain medical standards, similar to the Railway. Some of our staff failed their eye tests, mostly because of long term problems but these guys were competent at their jobs. We overcame this by having a special risk assessment for each person, it should be stressed that the OH nurse/doctor did not believe that any person presented a risk to themselves or others whilst doing their normal job because of their visual problems. We detailed the job, its hazards, normal control measures and then referred to the OH nurse's report/ recommendation. We then detailed any extra control measures that would be taken, in all cases we had our training department undertake a yearly continual competence assessment, further to normal accident/ near miss monitoring we flagged all those who had special RAs and if they were involved in an accident then their eyesight problem would be brought into the investigation as a possible factor. This was achieved with the persons, union, HR & Occ Health approval. The system worked for us and none of the personnel who had personal RA's were involved in accidents where their eyesight was a contributory factor. There may be circumstances where this could not be used e.g. a person working on the railway who needed to distinguish red from green but could not. Hope this helps Take Care

Sorry Ray train drivers are not tested annually as a general rule. There are Railway Group Standards that specify when and how often drivers are subject to a ful medical examination, this varies according to age. Some train operating companies may well have tighter limits but the group standard is generally the system used. You are right however they are not allowed to drive with defective colour vision. As far as other jobs are concerned if there is a need to differentiate between colour codes such as electrical work, gas work or other colour coded systems then colour vision is critical and must be taken on a case by case basis as fits the type of work undertaken. PS I worked in the rail industry for 45 years and was finally found to be colour blind (Green) and was not allowed to undertake safety critical work or go line side without being accompanied. Not that big a problem for most in the rail industry other than drivers, conductors and signallers.

Age can be a big factor/contributor As an example and with ragards to working in sewers; all the staff below a certain age failed [yes failed!] certain fitness/endurance tests we put them thought inclusive of eye sight tests whereas all the staff over 50 passed [yes passed!] the tests so do not get into the trap of thinking that the older a person is the worse they are as that is not always the case