Train driver profession: Men have genital examination, women have "bust" over 75 cm?
The Ministry of Health's draft on health examinations for train drivers and railway staff must ensure hundreds of indicators, especially men with hydrocele and women with uterine or fallopian tube inflammation are not qualified to become train drivers.
Currently, the Ministry of Health is organizing a public consultation on the draft circular regulating health standards for railway employees directly serving train operations, in which the requirement to have male and female genital examinations for applicants is causing much controversy.
According to the draft, health standards include two groups of criteria on physical fitness and standards on physiological functions and diseases; there are separate criteria for employee recruitment examinations or periodic health examinations.
Physical standards include: height, weight, average chest circumference, dominant hand grip strength, non-dominant hand grip strength, trunk pull strength...
As for the position of train driver and assistant train driver, the standard for men is to be 1.64 m or taller, weigh 52 kg, have an average chest circumference of 80 cm, and have a dominant grip strength of 37 kg... Women who are train captains, train operators, switchmen, and train dispatchers must be 1.53 m or taller, weigh 45 kg, and have an average chest circumference of 75 cm or taller. Male and female patrol and crossing staff must also meet the minimum standards for height, weight, and chest circumference.
Other issues that need to be examined include eyes, ears, nose and throat, heart, lungs, blood, teeth and jaws, digestive system... and urinary-genital system are also raised.
Specifically, men with hydrocele, testicular agenesis or cryptorchidism, urethral disease, penile intervention... are considered ineligible for the position of train driver or assistant train driver.
As for women, candidates will not be qualified for the position of train driver or assistant train driver if they have vaginal or uterine prolapse, symptoms of parametritis, chronic inflammation of the fallopian tubes with other organs that are not effectively treated, menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, polymenorrhea, cesarean section, uterine fibroids that have not been operated on or have been operated on...
This is the first draft of the Ministry of Health that is being widely consulted. This regulation (in case the circular is issued) does not apply to those who were recruited before the circular takes effect.
In addition to quantitative standards, the index in the "appearance" section states: "Those who meet health standards but have physical deformities or disabilities that affect work and communication... will not be recruited as train drivers, assistant train drivers, or train captains."
