Hearing and Vision

Hearing and vision (sight, visual fields and colour vision) make up important aspects of working safely within the rail industry.

Hearing

Substantial hearing loss may affect the ability to perform Safety Critical Work due to the inability to communicate or failure to hear sounds indicating a hazard. The ability to hear radio communications is particularly important for communication of train orders, as well as for managing emergency situations. Some positions require hearing of ‘safety critical information’ in noisy environments.

Vision

Good vision is essential for Safety Critical Work. Visual information is crucial to driving trains and operating other machinery as well walking about the track. Thus any significant loss of visual acuity or visual fields will diminish a person’s ability to work safely.

Colour Vision

Colour vision is important for some safety critical tasks. For example, the identification and correct interpretation of red, green, yellow and other coloured signals, flags and lights is necessary or the safe operation of trains.

Approach to fitness for duty

More likely to be fit for duty if;
You are more likely to be fit for Category 1 and 2 work if you have normal colour vision and good visual acuity. The wearing of corrective lenses for vision is not generally a barrier to employment. Colour vision is not required for Category 3 positions. A person with only one functioning eye will require a specialist letter.

Less likely to be fit for duty if;
You are less likely to be for Category 1 and 2 work if you have a known color vision deficiency (“Colour blind”). Train drivers require normal colour vision and other Category 1 and 2 positions require good, but not necessarily perfect/normal colour vision. Testing is done at pre-employment to determine the degree of colour vision a worker has and whether or not it is a barrier to employment. A person with an uncorrectable vision impairment is less likely to be fit for employment.

You are unique
Everyone’s hearing and vision is different. How you are affected will depend on a range of circumstances. The assessing Authorised Health Professional decisions are made on a case by case basis. A particular assessment decision is based on the individual circumstances of the applicant under consideration.

Letter from your treating doctor
If you have or have previously been treated for hearing or vision loss or for colour vision deficiency and are considering applying for a position at Metro Trains Melbourne, please bring any relevant information from your treating practitioner detailing your medical condition with you to your medical assessment.