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Posted By Mike Craven
Hi all
Am aware of what the DSE reg's say, have looked at the HSE advice note, and am not looking to re-open the debate about lots of people using the reg's to get a free eyetest whenever they feel like it, but........
What do you guys do about repeat eyetests? What do we class as "very frequent" repeat eyetests? Do you have rules on how frequently staff can get a repeat test? Etc, etc.
Any views?
Mike
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Posted By Ron Young
Normally every 2 years unless a medical condition necessitates a more frequent regime.
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Posted By Rakesh Maharaj
To add my 2 pence worth to Ron's response: If the prescription lenses supplied exacerbated an existing condition or was incorrect in the first place.
Regards
Rakesh
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Posted By Melanie Harrison
Every two years as mentioned above - normally that it what opticians advise anyway. It may be beneficial for a Company to specicfy a nominated Optician near to where the employees work so there is some consistency in the price of eye tests, frequency etc.
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Posted By Simon Ayee
The guidance to the regs (L26) states
"Employers should be guided by the clinical judgement of the optometrist or doctor on the frequency of repeat testing. The frequency of repeat testing needed will vary between individuals, according to
factors such as age."
I.e. the person carrying out the test staes when a further test is due.
Also if the user experiences visual difficulties which may be reasonably be considered to be caused by their VDU work.
Simon
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Posted By Mike Craven
Many thanks for the responses guys - much appreciated, but can I take the discussion forward a stage or two.
I am aware of what the regs, acop, guidance notes, etc say, and realise that we need to consider the optician's professional opinion. We do, as Melanie suggests, use certain approved opticians - we belong to a national eyecare (voucher) scheme. However....
I accept and concur with Ron's view about testing every two years - subject, as others have pointed out, to the consideration of opticians advice and individual factors and characteristics such as age, existing medical/optical conditions, etc - but.
What do you do if one of the approved opticians appears to take the view that everyone should have an annual eyetest? How do you separate "normal" eyetests from those for DSE users? How do you deal with a large group of people who "have come for my annual eyetest" when they just happen to be DSE users? Any comments?
(I realise that I am probably being "paid back" now. As a Union Safety Rep for may years, I encouraged people to have their regular "free" eyetest because "it's about the only perk you can get from this firm". Probably cost the Post Office and Royal Mail an absolute fortune over the years!!!!!!!)
Mike
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Posted By Ron Young
Unless there are mitigating circumstances, it is generally accepted that an eyetest every two years is enough. I have come across opticians in the past who go on the one year rule but this tends to be more of a sales gimic. Speak with the other opticians that you use and take their advice. I did this previously and what I say above came from one of them
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Posted By Laurie
Technically you could regard this as part of a DSE risk assessment, and RAs should be reviewed at least annually.
I endorse tests at twelve months and have never had any flak from the bean counters
Laurie
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Posted By Jack
But surely Laurie the 'bean counters' recognise that you are the competent h&s adviser and expect you to be providing the best h&s advice. They are probably not aware of the HSE guidance quoted above. How did you arrive at 1 year? Based on your reasoned assessment or plucked out of the air?
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Posted By Laurie
Jack
As I said in my original response, I review all risk assessments, DSE or otherwise, at least annually, and rightly or wrongly I consider the sight test as part of my assessment
Laurie
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Posted By Roger Uncles
Mike
Our company guidelines are every 2 years for DSE users,Inspectors, and safety glasses
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Posted By Ron Hunter
Laurie,
Some of your bean counters might be upset if they were aware that such tests are to be provided only if and when requested by the User!
If your using voucher systems, your bean counters might also want to see some traceability of issue, and a spread sheet format can also be used to record 'date of last issue'against employee number, going some way to reducing abuse of the system?
DSE Regs allow for in-house vision screening , and there are software packages on the market allowing this to be done at the Workstation, which you could install across your workplace(s)via intranet, LAN, etc., carrying out vision screening as often as you like at minimal cost - those 'failing' screening could then be sent for test. The bigger the number of Users, the more value in considering screening.
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Posted By Teresa Kirkby
DSE users are still entitled to choose a full eye test instead of screening or after having had vision screening. (See L26, Work with display screen equipment, guidance paragraph 76)
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