When should the driver with a history of substance misuse be allowed to return to the wheel? A review of the substance misuse section of the Australian national guidelines.

Assessing fitness to drive in applicants with a historical or current substance use disorder presents a specific clinical challenge. The Australian guidelines require evidence of remission and absence of cognitive change when considering applications for re-licensing driver or individuals applying to reengage in safety-sensitive work. This paper reviews some of the clinical and biochemical indicators that determine whether a particular person is in 'remission' and meets the criteria for return to driving or other safety-sensitive occupation.

Guidance note: risk management of workers with medical electronic devices and metallic implants in electromagnetic fields.

Medical electronic devices and metallic implants are found in an increasing number of workers. Industrial applications requiring intense electromagnetic fields (EMF) are growing and the potential risk of injurious interactions arising from EMF affecting devices or implants needs to be managed. Potential interactions include electromagnetic interference, displacement, and electrostimulation or heating of adjacent tissue, depending on the device or implant and the frequency of the fields.

The Inquiry into the Waterfall train crash: implications for medical examinations of safety-critical workers.

The implications arising from the Inquiry into the Waterfall train crash for medical examinations of safety-critical workers are discussed. Examinations need to be appropriate for the level of risk in the job and apply current medical thinking. A careful balance is required between the various legal obligations, including duty of care, disability discrimination and privacy.

Decreased survival for childhood leukemia in proximity to television towers.

Previously, an increased risk of childhood leukemia was identified among children who resided in an inner ring (radius -4 km) of 3 municipalities surrounding television towers, compared with children who resided in an outer ring (radius approximately 4-12 km) of 6 municipalities surrounding, but farther away from, the towers, which are situated in North Sydney, Australia. In the current study, the authors examined the survival experience of these children for all childhood leukemias, and for acute lymphatic leukemia (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 9th revision [ICD-9] rubric 204.0) in particular.

Diseases of modern living: neurological changes associated with mobile phones and radiofrequency radiation in humans.

Health effects of radiofrequency radiations (RFR) including mobile phone technology and the adequacy of their safety standards remain uncertain. Case reports of peripheral neurological effects of RFR describe mainly disturbances of noxious sensation (dysaesthesia). Cases associated with other RFR sources as well as mobile phone technology are examined seeking insights into neurophysiological mechanisms and safety levels.

New medical standards for drivers.

Background: The national standards for assessing private and commercial vehicle drivers have recently been revised and combined into a single publication 'Assessing Fitness to Drive', published by Austroads. The new publication provides greater clarity of medical criteria for general practitioners and specialists and also details useful management guidelines.

Objective: This article introduces GPs to the new standards, outlines the key changes and implications for practice and highlights several medical, legal and ethical issues.

Neurological effects of radiofrequency radiation.

Background: The health effects of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) and the adequacy of the safety standards are a subject of debate. One source of human data is case reports regarding peripheral neurological effects of RFR, mainly noxious sensations or dysaesthesiae.

Aim: To investigate health effects, neurophysiological mechanisms and safety levels for RFR.