Metrolink peer review report - Ventura County Star

METROLINK COMMUTER RAIL SAFETY PEER REVIEW PANEL
Final Report – January 5, 2009
e. Annual Medical and Psychological Evaluations for Train Crews
Issue Papers
Observations
SCRRA Board of Directors, in a motion on October 10, 2008, requested information regarding SCRRA’s authority
to require train crews to undergo annual health and psychological evaluations.
The Panel reviewed the FRA’s 2005 Final Report on Medical Standards for Railroad Workers, the Railroad Safety
Advisory Committee (RSAC) website, and information related to the RSAC Task No 06-03: Medical Standards for
Safety-Critical Personnel. The Panel also conducted a high-level review of related academic literature in the
ABI/Inform Global database.
Recommendation
a. The Panel recommends that SCRRA implement medical evaluations prior to placement of contractor
employees in safety critical positions and at a minimum of every three years, with more frequent
evaluation in specific circumstances. This recommendation is consistent with the preliminary studies by
the FRA RSAC.
b. The Panel did not find any evidence that psychological6 evaluations for train crews would reduce
exposure to risk for Metrolink. However the Panel does recommend that SCRRA perform research in this
area to determine if psychological exams would increase safety on its Metrolink system.
Background
This issue of annual medical and psychological evaluations for train crews raises two questions:
1. Does SCRRA have the authority to require them of contractors; and
2. Would such a requirement improve safety at Metrolink?
SCRRA has the right to negotiate changes to its contractors’ provisions; however, depending on the requested
contractual change, it may create potential labor issues with the contractor and the contractor's employees.
SCRRA can also change its SSPP and create a safety requirement of medical and psychological evaluation of train
crews. It's also important to consider that in contemplating changes to the contract or the SSPP, that the changes
reflect the need for contractors, not Metrolink, to maintain a direct relationship with the contractor’s own
employees, so that an independent contractor relationship is maintained.
The Panel considered the efficacy of annual medical evaluations separately from annual psychological evaluations.
Regarding medical evaluations, the FRA’s 2005 Final Report on Medical Standards for Railroad Workers clearly
establishes the medical condition of crew members as an exposure to fatal and non-fatal accidents. The FRA has
tasked the RSAC with developing recommendations for medical standards for safety-critical personnel. The
RSAC is currently engaged in a collaborative study of the efficacy, feasibility, and the myriad legal issues
surrounding medical evaluations for railroad workers.
Although the RSAC recommendations have not been published, the Panel has not seen any indication that they
will include annual evaluations. Much more likely are recommendations to require medical evaluations prior to
6 By psychological evaluation, it refers to psychological or psychiatric screening that could result in a diagnosis from the American
Psychological Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV-TR).
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