NON safety-critical medical

[fgw47]

Hi all,

I've seen a lot on here about safety-critical medicals, but not much about non safety-critical medicals, which are scaled down. I believe it contains ECG, height weight and BMI, and a urine sample.

I wondered if anyone knows what type of urine testing is involved in these types of medicals?

There's also a lot of variation on how long alcohol stays in urine to be detectable. If someone had last consumed alcohol two weeks before a medical, would this show up at all?

Does anyone know the level at which one is failed on for alcohol content?

Cheers in advance.

 

[scotsman]

Mine was a breathalyser, urine test, medical questionnaire, chat about medical history and medication. As long as you declare everything you have no problem, medicine wise.

As for alcohol, I didn't get a fortnight's notice for mine and I'd had alcohol a couple of days before - I think keeping off the booze at least 48 hours would be prudent. If this is an issue, just leave now.

 

[Carntyne]

Mine was a breathalyser, urine test, medical questionnaire, chat about medical history and medication. As long as you declare everything you have no problem, medicine wise.

As for alcohol, I didn't get a fortnight's notice for mine and I'd had alcohol a couple of days before - I think keeping off the booze at least 48 hours would be prudent. If this is an issue, just leave now.

This. Make sure you declare everything when asked.

I had a weeks notice but 48 hours sounds fine to me.

 

[fgw47]

Thanks all. It will be a good 12 days without alcohol so guessing I should be fine then.

 

[R Trevithick]

And don't forget that when they ask you to fill the cup use the Norman Stanley Fletcher line -

"Wot from 'ere"

 

[fgw47]

And don't forget that when they ask you to fill the cup use the Norman Stanley Fletcher line -

"Wot from 'ere"

That's probably the best advice I've had!!

 

[Minilad]

But don't do what I did. Filled the cup. Placed cup on toilet cistern while doing up fly. Went to pick up cup and knocked it, and contents, flying. Cue an hour wait to perform successfully for a second time!

 

[fgw47]

But don't do what I did. Filled the cup. Placed cup on toilet cistern while doing up fly. Went to pick up cup and knocked it, and contents, flying. Cue an hour wait to perform successfully for a second time!

It happens to the best of us!!

Thanks all for the advice, looking forward to getting the medical over with.

 

[Jonfun]

My medical was urine test, eyesight test, colourblindness test, hearing test, BMI, blood pressure, general mobility tests and a general health questionnaire.

 

[fgw47]

My medical was urine test, eyesight test, colourblindness test, hearing test, BMI, blood pressure, general mobility tests and a general health questionnaire.

Cheers for the insight. Was this for a safety-critical role at all? Of the parts you've mentioned, I was only told by HR that I would undertake a urine test, drugs and alcohol test (guessing that's just the urine test?), ECG test and height/weight/BMI etc.

Also - based on what HR told me it would consist of, does anyone know how long this scaled-down medical would take?

 

[Markos72]

You may well be asked to do a breathalyser test as well to check alcohol limit,I had to do that at my last periodical medical.

 

[CatfordCat]

My understanding - and I'm not medically trained at all, so advice is worth face value - is that it takes about an hour for one unit of alcohol to get out of your system.

One unit being about a half pint of average beer, a single pub measure of spirits, a small glass of wine.

Obviously will vary slightly depending on your metabolism, as well as just what strength beer it was and so on.

Fairly sure that traces of alcohol consumption won't stay in your system in a way that would show on a test any longer than this - although some drugs can.

It is certainly possible to be 'over the limit' (whether that's the drink-driving limit or the stricter limits imposed in the transport world) on the 'morning after' - and that in most transport jobs you can be drug / alcohol tested either 'for cause' (e.g. following an incident, or if a supervisor thinks you are under the influence) or randomly. This even applies to many of us who only 'drive a desk'...

 

[fgw47]

A big thanks to all. If anyone's interested, I passed my medical today and will now be Station Manager at London Victoria from February. Medical was a hearing questionnaire, blood pressure, urine test, height, weight, vision test and a few more questions. Can't wait to start!

 

[bb21]

Excellent news, congratulations

 

[ComUtoR]

Which side?

 

[MattB]

I have applied to be a signaller what's the pass rate on the BMI?

I'm a big guy, not exactly unfit but my BMI isn't exactly normal I play rugby etc.

 

[bb21]

I don't think there is a definitive pass mark for BMI. It needs to be looked at in conjunction with your other measures.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I don't see how there could be, as it doesn't take into account muscular build. My BMI has me as "obese" whereas I am really just a bit overweight, I'm also built like the brick proverbial, and even if I had not an ounce of fat on me would have to waste muscle to get under about 15 stone.

 

[matt_world2004]

What are they like if you are seriously underweight for medicals?

 

[fgw47]

Thanks BB21!

ComUtoR - Southern

 

[ComUtoR]

Cheers fgw.

When I went for my medical I was informed that my BMI would have to be 29 or less. It was for a Safety Critical role.

 

[fgw47]

Cheers fgw.

When I went for my medical I was informed that my BMI would have to be 29 or less. It was for a Safety Critical role.

What role was that? I think my BMI was OK in the end, my understanding is that Station Manager has not long been downgraded to non safety-critical.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I have applied to be a signaller what's the pass rate on the BMI?

I'm a big guy, not exactly unfit but my BMI isn't exactly normal I play rugby etc.

Can't speak for certain but if you play sport and don't eat the worlds worst diet you should be ok. Is signaller safety critical?

If you're worried I guess your best option is to eat healthy, keep exercising and stay off the booze and you should be fine for a medical
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

What are they like if you are seriously underweight for medicals?

Not sure - as long as you're not too frail and are generally healthy I can't see too much of a problem, but I can't speak from an experts point of view

 

[ComUtoR]

Our paths may cross. I'll be in the crew room, on a pn

 

[fgw47]

Our paths may cross. I'll be in the crew room, on a pn

Forgive me for being stupid - what's a PN?

 

[ComUtoR]

Personal Needs Break

 

[Kev.]

Hi all,

Is it a requirement of the medicals for driver roles to write to your personnel doctor to ask for your medical history records?

I'm asking has I've just been chatting to a friend whom has the same doctor as myself and he stated that our doctor charges individuals for any information such as letters or medical files he sends out to potentional employees.

 

[tsr]

Thanks BB21!

ComUtoR - Southern

Hmmm! I'm very very surprised your post is not classed as Safety Critical. Southern Station Managers will inevitably be in charge of many safety critical staff themselves (in the case of Victoria, dozens of platform staff at any one time) and I'm pretty sure you'll be the named person on various emergency plans for evacuation and the like. Many if not most station management employees will also be trained in train dispatch, which is most definitely safety critical.

That said, for various reasons I have never had an awful lot to do with Victoria's station management (as opposed to those at many other stations in the area; I have worked with many Station Supervisors/Team Leaders/Managers from Southern, LOROL etc.) so I suppose I may have overlooked something. It just seems very surprising.

In any case, irrelevant to the above, I wish you all the best in your new role - and despite the possibility of not being a terribly familiar face, I will probably see you around!

 

[greatkingrat]

Hi all,

Is it a requirement of the medicals for driver roles to write to your personnel doctor to ask for your medical history records?

I'm asking has I've just been chatting to a friend whom has the same doctor as myself and he stated that our doctor charges individuals for any information such as letters or medical files he sends out to potentional employees.

They wouldn't normally contact your doctor. Possibly if you had some sort of ongoing medical condition they might need to obtain more information about your medical history, but that wouldn't be usual.

 

[tiptoptaff]

I recently had a non-safety critical medical for my TOC, and it was simply a pee in a cup and breathaliser test. Was asked if I was on any perscription medication that would either show on the test or could affect me day to day (I take seasonal hayfever tabs...ahcoo) and that was it. Hope that helps.

TTT