Medical Standards for Police Officer Recruits



Applicants must meet the following requirements:

Systems

Cardiovascular

• BP 140/90 or less – medication control permitted.
• No angina or congestive heart failure.
• Must be screened medically and considered fit enough to attempt completion of Calgary Police Service obstacle course.

Central Nervous

• Seizure disorder usually disqualifies.
• Central nervous system disorders will be assessed on an individual basis.

Gastro Intestinal

• Acute or chronic disease process which require worker to leave workstation without warning is not acceptable.
• Ostomic and bowel function assessed on individual basis as to job specific task, i.e.: uniform and equipment.

Genitourinary

• Acute or chronic disease process which would require worker to leave workstation without warning is unacceptable.

Metabolic

• All metabolic conditions must be well controlled.
• Insulin dependent diabetes usually disqualifies.
• Spontaneous attacks of hypoglycemia not acceptable.
• Marked hyperthyroidism not acceptable until condition medically treated and controlled.
• Pituitary and adrenal dysfunctions will be assessed on an individual basis using criteria which is equivalent to the requirements for a Class 1 driving license, as recommended by the Alberta Government Medical Standards for Drivers Licensing.

Musculoskeletal

• Assess on an individual basis as to degree of functional ability.
• Must be considered fit enough to attempt completion of the Calgary Police Service Obstacle Course.

Respiratory

• Medication dependent asthma usually disqualifies.
• Respiratory conditions affecting functional ability to communicate not acceptable.
• Decompensated bronco-pulmonary disease assessed on an individual basis using criteria which is equivalent to the requirements for a Class 1 driving license, as recommended by the Alberta Government Medical Standards for Drivers Licensing.
  
  
  Other

Alcohol and Drugs/Medications

• Use of substances that are known to affect physical, mental or emotional functioning of the individual will be assessed with regard to safe work practices.
• Current prescription or over the counter medication assessed on an individual basis.

Hearing

• Hearing aids not acceptable.
• Hearing threshold must be no greater than 30 d.B. in each ear averaged at 500 HZ, 1000 HZ, 2000 HZ, and 3000 HZ in each ear.

Immunization

• Not required.

Psychological/Psychiatric

• Assess on an individual basis using criteria which is equivalent to the requirements for a Class 1 driving license, as recommended by the Alberta Government Medical Standards for Drivers Licensing.

Vision requirements

• Testing to be done by City of Calgary Occupational Health Consultant utilizing AO Screener #II or out-of-town candidates may have initial vision test done at their own cost by an optometrist/ophthalmologist but will also have vision testing done by a City Occupational Health consultant.
• Keratotomy surgery assessed on an individual basis.

Distance vision

Minimum for those not requiring visual aid:
20/20 (6/6) in one eye and
20/30 (6/9) in the other eye

Minimum for those requiring visual aid:

Unaided:
20/60 (6/18) in both eyes, or
20/40 (6/12) in one eye and
20/100 (6/30) in other eye.

Aided (must correct to):
20/20 (6/6) in one eye and
20/30 (6/9) in other eye

Near Vision

No standards established. Will be continuously reviewed.

Horizontal vision

Normal - not less than 130 degrees, each eye examined separately.

Binocular vision

Normal

Colour vision

Ishihara must have 12 or more of 1-15 plates correct. If applicant fails the Ishihara plates, conduct a Farnsworth 15D test. Results to be interpreted by the Occupational Health physician.