Trainee driver medical

[Scotty boy]

Got good news today that i had passed my structured interview with scotrail. And have to go for my medical in a week. I read some where about your bmi should be around 28. My Bmi is 32 i am six foot and 16 stone 12pounds i am a fit and strong guy with no health problems is my bmi an issue. Thanks in advance for any replys

 

[387star]

I had a recent medical. I expected it to be easy but the hearing test well you really have to listen hard! I am almost underweight but got through so wouldn't worry about it

 

[TDK]

Got good news today that i had passed my structured interview with scotrail. And have to go for my medical in a week. I read some where about your bmi should be around 28. My Bmi is 32 i am six foot and 16 stone 12pounds i am a fit and strong guy with no health problems is my bmi an issue. Thanks in advance for any replys

As long as it 33 or under you are OK, just watch your weight until the medical

 

[A-driver]

There isn't really an enforced weight limit-I know many drivers who are way over a Bmi of 33!

It's the other health problems associated with obesity that cause concern-high blood pressure for example.

They can't refuse a job on grounds of weight alone. As long as you will fit in a cab all should be fine.

 

[TDK]

There isn't really an enforced weight limit-I know many drivers who are way over a Bmi of 33!

It's the other health problems associated with obesity that cause concern-high blood pressure for example.

They can't refuse a job on grounds of weight alone. As long as you will fit in a cab all should be fine.

Sorry but that is wrong, if your BMI is over 33 you will not get a job as a train driver unless the rules of employment for drivers has changed, if your BMI goes over 33 when you are employed you will not get dismissed. It is all down to the ergonomics of the cab. There are height restrictions as well, from 5'2" to 6'6"

 

[A-driver]

Well I guess its different if you put on the weight after joining then. As I say, I know many drivers who are no where near 33. It is more about the health problems associated rather than the weight itself though.

 

[hiall]

One of my good friends is 6 foot 8 and hes route learning at the moment as a driver. He was a guard before that. I dont think they can discriminate like that anymore because I know in the past you had to meet a certain criteria with the Police and Fire Brigade but definetly not now.

 

[Skoodle]

My BMI was over 33 when I had my initial medical when I started. I just had to do a mobility test with the nurse, squatting down amd getting up unaided, flapping your arms about etc. You won't be turned down if you are over 33!

 

[TDK]

My BMI was over 33 when I had my initial medical when I started. I just had to do a mobility test with the nurse, squatting down amd getting up unaided, flapping your arms about etc. You won't be turned down if you are over 33!

That is very surprising, I suppose then it must be to do with the TOC, but on the application forms for the company I worked for there was a question on BMI and anything over 33 was refused the first stage. I suppose also it depends on when you had your medical.
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One of my good friends is 6 foot 8 and hes route learning at the moment as a driver. He was a guard before that. I dont think they can discriminate like that anymore because I know in the past you had to meet a certain criteria with the Police and Fire Brigade but definetly not now.

Once again, there is always the fact that a company can do a risk assessment and ensure the said individual is ok for the ergonomics of the cab however as rule of thumb, over 33 bmi, under 5'2" or over 6'6" is going to be a disadvantge.

 

[A-driver]

Things like that about BMI on the application form are purely to reducethe number of applicants that they bhave to sift through. Is exactly the same as the questions about living sighing 30mins of the depot or whatever time they say. They don't really care but it means they have less people to read applications from, send to testing, interview etc.

 

[TDK]

Things like that about BMI on the application form are purely to reducethe number of applicants that they bhave to sift through. Is exactly the same as the questions about living sighing 30mins of the depot or whatever time they say. They don't really care but it means they have less people to read applications from, send to testing, interview etc.

That again is total rubbish, all the information on the application form has a purpose and it is not to reduce the amount of applicants that go through. I had to sift over 600 applications for 3 positions and myself and a colleague checked ever single one of them, 25% plus were not even filled in correctly and this is the best way for the first sift, anything not completed is instant failure, you would not believ some of the applications, an HND in mechanical engineering, past railway employment, 5 minutes from the depot, excellent sickness and attendance recor, the applicant fails to fill in their height - instant failure.

 

[lewisb]

That again is total rubbish, all the information on the application form has a purpose and it is not to reduce the amount of applicants that go through. I had to sift over 600 applications for 3 positions and myself and a colleague checked ever single one of them, 25% plus were not even filled in correctly and this is the best way for the first sift, anything not completed is instant failure, you would not believ some of the applications, an HND in mechanical engineering, past railway employment, 5 minutes from the depot, excellent sickness and attendance recor, the applicant fails to fill in their height - instant failure.

Harsh but fair I guess.

 

[A-driver]

Not rubbish at all. I spent a number of years in railway HR before joining the driving grade. When you advertise for jobs like trainee drivers applications flood in. A computer can instantly reduce the number you need to sift through. Whilst I wasn't asked about BMI when I became a driver i know some TOCs do and the one I worked in HR for did purely to reduce the applications.

If you are over but no other health risks then the dr will discuss it with you and pass you fit. As I say, many drivers are over 33.

 

[TDK]

Not rubbish at all. I spent a number of years in railway HR before joining the driving grade. When you advertise for jobs like trainee drivers applications flood in. A computer can instantly reduce the number you need to sift through. Whilst I wasn't asked about BMI when I became a driver i know some TOCs do and the one I worked in HR for did purely to reduce the applications.

If you are over but no other health risks then the dr will discuss it with you and pass you fit. As I say, many drivers are over 33.

We can dissagree with this forever, the 33BMI is pureley for ergonomics of the cab and getting in and out of a unit/train. As you I worked in driver recruitment for 5 years and as far as I was informed the BMI of >34 was for the above reasons. No computers then to sift the applications they were all done by hand. A painstaking job to be honest.

 

[156441]

I can answer this as a union rep with knowledge on the subject. There is reasonably new legislation in place which makes putting any health related questions/questionnaire in an application process illegal. However they may state in the application form process that certain medical conditions would prohibit someone from doing a job as it is a safety critical job etc. Once at medical as stated earlier the occy health nurse may fail you if you do not meet the standards required. But failing someone on BMI would be risky business as they may fall foul of discrimination laws if they could not prove how this would stop the individual doing the job.

 

[TDK]

I can answer this as a union rep with knowledge on the subject. There is reasonably new legislation in place which makes putting any health related questions/questionnaire in an application process illegal. However they may state in the application form process that certain medical conditions would prohibit someone from doing a job as it is a safety critical job etc. Once at medical as stated earlier the occy health nurse may fail you if you do not meet the standards required. But failing someone on BMI would be risky business as they may fall foul of discrimination laws if they could not prove how this would stop the individual doing the job.

There are standards in place for the ergonmics of train driving and BMI is one of them, why waste a potential candidates time if they are not going to be suitable for whatever reason for the role, it is the same with colour vision and lazer eye surgery, so the proof is the risk assessments carried out on the traction units that prove that being over 33 BMI is going to restrict you whilst driving a train. If it's in the company standards that is proof enough to refuse someone on them grounds.