Recommendation Date
Recipient Name
NZ Rail
Text
Prepare medical guidelines for Locomotive Engineers (and other operating staff as appropriate) concerning fitness for duty.
Reply Text
There is a general requirement in the New Zealand Rail Limited Behaviour Code known to all our employees that no-one shall "be affected by drugs or alcohol to an extend which causes concern or distress to customers, passengers or other staff, or which raises doubts about the ability of the employee to carry out his or her duties safely and competently". This includes prescription drugs. Rule 8 of the New Zealand Rail Limited operating rules refers to similar requirements.
The obligation remains with the locomotive engineer to advise the Company when, in his view, he considers himself unfit for duty.
New Zealand Rail Limited plans to review the current rule for all employees to be more specific about the employees obligation to alert their controlling office of any factors rendering that person unfit for duty. The need to prepare additional medical guidelines for locomotive engineers is not considered necessary.
The obligation remains with the locomotive engineer to advise the Company when, in his view, he considers himself unfit for duty.
New Zealand Rail Limited plans to review the current rule for all employees to be more specific about the employees obligation to alert their controlling office of any factors rendering that person unfit for duty. The need to prepare additional medical guidelines for locomotive engineers is not considered necessary.
Related Investigation(s)