Will colorblindness affect/effect a potential conductor position?

Question

i have been invited to a recruiting session for a major railroad to be a conductor. i am slightly red-green colorbllind. we will go thorough physical and mental exam(s), and im wondering if this will be an issue.

i can see red/yellow/green lights to drive.... so....?

ive tried to talk with people from the rr, but no one can tell me anything.

Answer 1

It will be an issue because they have red over green and green over red. It is not always like a traffic light where it is always red over green.

You won't know for sure unless you try it.

Good Luck

Answer 2

it depends how bad it is, in the uk they do a colour test if you pass your in, if it later becomes a problem you would be redeployed to another role, keeping your salary and perks.

unfortunatley as your role is safety critical they can discriminate against you in this way

Answer 3

dont mention it to them, if you pass the tests you pass the tests.

Answer 4

If you are hired, you are hired.  If they do not tell you up front that being colorblind is unacceptable, then after you are hired you will have discrimination rights.

Answer 5

You will be given a standard color perception test.  All operating personnel are.  If you pass, you're good to go, unless your colorblindness is part of a degenerative process.

Color perception is not just required to read the signal aspects, as there are temporary speed restrictions with colored flags involved.  The one you may have the most difficulty with is the "red/yellow" flag.  This is THE most important one, as it protects men and equipment on the main line and controlled siding tracks.

In addition, you will need to be able to perceive blue lights and flags and these protect personnel as well.  There are also "lunar" lights, sort of a bluish white.

In some instances, signal bridges have many signal heads on top of one another as well as next to each other, and at some locations they convey information on several parallel tracks.  These can be confusing even for one who has perfect color perception.

You owe it to yourself, co-workers and the public to be 100%.  If you're not, you are risking lots of lives.  If it is a problem, disqualify yourself.  Only you will know for sure, so do some soul searching.

Good luck.

Answer 6

I work for BNSF Railway and if you don't pass that test, you cant work there. Now if you pass, and later it becomes a problem, they will restrict you to the yard...

Answer 7

I can see no reason why it should matter.  The engineers need to be able to read signals, but conductors don't.