Posted By J Knight Identify your users using HSE guidance; generally somebody whose workload involves a substantial amount of display screen use (often siad to be more than one hour a day, though this should not be taken as written in stone) and who is not entirely in control of their workload or work patterns. If these people ask for an eyesight test you are obliged to pay for one and for any corrective appliance required as a result. The user should ask their optician/optometrist for a Regulation 5 eyetest, as they are not entitled to a general sight test. There has been discussion previously on these pages as to how much an employer should be prepared to pay for the glasses, but the long and the short of it is if the optometrist identifies a particular appliance as necessary for display screen use the employer is obliged to pay whatever the cost. Bear in mind that only a small percentage of the population will need appliances for screen use, and usually they are fairly low cost, John

Posted By bigwhistle Can you clarify the difference between a regulation 5 eyetest and a normal one? Also the cash bit- as I understood they were liable only for the basic lens/frames to solve the problem.

Posted By Lynne Ratcliffe THE HEALTH AND SAFETY (DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT) REGULATIONS 1992 3 (1) The objective in enforcing the Regulations is to minimise the risk of occupational ill-health, by ensuring that operators or users have: adequate training and information; proper breaks or changes of activity; work stations suitable for them which meet, where necessary, the standards in the schedule; and eye tests if they request them. Eyes and eye sight (REG. 5) 10 (1) There is good evidence that work with DSE does not cause any permanent damage to eyes or eye sight, although complaints of temporary discomfort, eye strain and headaches are common. As with any work that is visually demanding, users with existing uncorrected vision defects are more likely to suffer fatigue and stress in DSE work. The eye tests and corrective appliances provided under reg. 5 are intended to be a means of alleviating such problems. (2) HSW s.9 is applicable to payment for eye tests and special corrective appliances. Employers are responsible for costs. Special corrective appliances paid for by the employer remain the employers property. (3) There is no legal requirement for employers to provide paid time-off for eye tests, although in practice the majority of employers will probably do so. If your lot is like my lot they want chapter and verse - as per above.

Posted By Jerry Lucey It is also worth considering that not everyone wants to wear standard frames. Perhaps your policy could consider giving the user the option of purchasing frames of their choice, where the employee would be given the option of covering the difference in price between these and the standard frame and lense. It will mean that employees are more likely to wear spectacles that may be necessary to prevent further deterioration of their eyesight by work activities.