Course Summary
Before undertaking any training or work on the railway, you must be medically fit to work in accordance with Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124 (Competence Specific Fitness Medical Requirements). Drugs and alcohol can significantly impair an individual’s ability to work safely, posing serious risks on the railway. Therefore, drugs and alcohol screening is implemented to minimise the risk of employees being unfit for duty due to substance use.
A Network Rail Medical Assessment must be completed before enrolling on the Personal Track Safety (PTS) course. This assessment ensures you meet the necessary prerequisites to start the PTS course and work on the railway. Your medical results will be uploaded to your Sentinel profile.
What to Bring on the Day
- Photo ID (current Passport or Driving Licence)
- Sentinel Card (if applicable)
- Name, address, and telephone number of your GP
- Glasses (if worn)
- Hearing aids (if worn)
Drugs and Alcohol Screening
Completion of a Network Rail Drugs & Alcohol Screening is mandatory before enrolment on any safety-critical railway course. This screening confirms your fitness to begin training and work on the railway. Results will be uploaded to your Sentinel profile.
You will be required to provide a urine sample, which will be sent to a RISQS-approved, UKAS-accredited laboratory for analysis. If you regularly take medication, please provide the full name(s) of your medication(s) for the lab’s consideration during analysis.
The laboratory tests for traces of:
- Amphetamines (including Methamphetamines)
- Benzodiazepines
- Cannabis
- Cocaine
- MDMA
- EDDP (Methadone metabolite)
- Opiates
- Propoxyphene
Results usually take up to 3 days, but may take longer if further investigation is required. A positive result will result in a 5-year suspension, recorded on your Sentinel profile, during which you will not be permitted to work on the railway infrastructure. Alcohol levels are tested via a breathalyser with immediate results. Refusal or failure to provide a urine or breath sample will be treated as a positive test and recorded accordingly.
Medical Assessment
The medical assessment is designed to ensure individuals working on the railway do not face increased risks of harm due to medical conditions, protecting themselves, colleagues, and the public.
Before the assessment begins, the medical professional will explain the process and how your personal information will be handled. You will be required to sign a declaration and consent form.
Depending on the requirements, the assessment may include checks on:
- Regular vision and colour vision
- Diabetes
- Balance and mobility
- Hearing
- Height and weight (BMI)
- General health
- Blood pressure
- Respiratory function
- Urine analysis for protein and glucose
You may be asked to consent to Tec Training Occupational Health Services contacting your GP for further information. If a serious condition is identified, you may be referred to an Occupational Health Physician for further evaluation.
Results
- Drugs & Alcohol Screening results will be uploaded to your Sentinel card/profile within 72 hours. If there are any issues, we will work to resolve them within 7 working days. Positive results lead to a 5-year suspension recorded on your Sentinel profile.
- Medical Assessment results will also be uploaded within 72 hours. Any complications will be addressed with the Medical Review Officer (MRO) within 7 working days. If underlying health issues are identified, you will be referred to your GP for further assessment.