Defence recruiting colour vision study – phase one
Congenital red/green colour vision defects affect around 8% of males reducing the pool of personnel available for recruitment into the Australian Defence Force. Current ADF Colour Perception standards have, in the most part, been in place since World War 2, and their current relevance is questioned. This paper reports Phase One of an investigation of the validity of the standards applying to electrical and mechanical trades in the ADF by the Centre for Military and Veterans’ Health (CMVH) and comprises: a literature review, a risk assessment, and a proposal for research to determine an appropriate screening protocol.
limited risk assessment of ADF electrical and mechanical trades in relation to their Colour Perception Categories was conducted. This showed: • Some occupations involve tasks with complex use of colour, detailed recognition of surface
colour codes or recognition of signal lights. It is unlikely that the Colour Perception Categories for these occupations would be lowered. (Level 1 occupations) • Some occupations involve tasks with less complex use of colour and where the recognition of surface colour codes is less detailed. These occupations might well be considered for a more lenient, intermediate standard (referred to as CP2B in the discussion in the literature review). (Level 2 occupations) • Other occupations appear to have little need for colour vision ability. These occupations might well be considered for removal of the colour vision requirement (that is, made CP3). (Level 3 occupations)
