Posted By SteveD-M Carol Complicated subject - I know I had to implement a fitness to work/drive standard... From the company's view point - DVLA licence medical standards say that he should only have a licence for a car (Group 1) The standard guidance for medics says he cannot hold a group 2 licence - I would say that a crane falls into Group 2 HGV's. Then there is the debate around work equipment... You say this is unrelated so maybe this is a red herring?

Posted By A Campbell I would have thought there is no association between a tower crane and driving a road vehicle. Similar in regards to assessing fork lift truck operations – some companies use DVLA as benchmark. It would be a separate issue for medical fitness with regards to peripheral vision, distance of the jib and crane block in relation to landing objects etc. Properly wisest move is to seek Occ Health advice?

Posted By barker Thanks to everyone who responded to my question. I am going to arrange for him to see an OH Physician, also get the co to arrange a risk assessment. I wondered if anyone knew if he would come under the DDA? As he has had one since he was a child, he has never bothered to find out. Thanks again for your help. Carol

Posted By Andrew W What an interesting and thought provoking posting. So would an operator with both eyes who achieved aided 6/12 vision in effect be in a better situation than an operator with one eye achieving unaided 6/12 vision? Supposing he/she lost or damaged his/her spectacles whilst operating? Andy

Posted By barker Thanks again to everyone. I am amazed how many people look at this site!! It was really interesting Paul about one and two eyes, from the expert. Thanks very mich. My guy does not even think about it because he has only had the use of one eye since he was a child. Also thanks for the note about the DDA. Perhaps if we get any further, I can let you know the outcome, hopefully successful. Carol

Posted By SteveD-M I was a guilty as anyone here.. we should be careful about mixing fitness to drive with fitness to work. These are two separate issues. I am also pretty sure in my dim and dark memory from when I was researching the subject that the only industrial standards on fitness to work in UK are contained in the FLT guidance?

Posted By John D Crosby Hi Carol Some many years ago I had a similar situation with a FLT driver when eyesight testing was introduced for the drivers - well before the requirement came about generally. We looked at his accident record and spoke to his manager. He had had no accidents and his manager said he was one of the best drivers he had for accuracy in stacking etc. With that in mind we allowed him to continue working as an FLT driver and he continued to be one of the best drivers we had. I would suggest that you allow this person to continue in his job but with some extra checks on his ability as he works for a short time. Take care John C

Posted By Joe Chris Carol, I think that you are struggling to find an answer to your question, because the question itself is flawed. What is the relationship between, having one eye, a DVLA license and operating a tower crane.? I don't get it.? This seems more like a competency issue, If he can prove his competency, through experience, ability etc then I think that he would have a good reason to appeal the company decision. If the company decide that he is not physically fit to work due to poor eyesight, maybe it is just their way of being cautious, the DVLA license (un)connection is a red herring. Be glad to know where your investigation leads tho, good luck Joe

Posted By alex mccreadie Dear All Trust me. This Operator is good he is highly thought of and a good worker. Sadly his medical highlighted he has only sight in one eye. All relevant guidance like BS7121 PART 5 states crane operators must have good vision this is determined by the HSE guidance note on my earlier post. If the lad can pass a Occupational Health Screening as opposed to a GP examination he will return to work. No I am not his direct employer but I know of the case. There are many varied agencies like the CPA assisting in trying to see if the lad is allowed to work. I can assure you everything mentioned by the various posters has been tried and explored. Yes you will all be kept posted. Regards Alex

Posted By Robert K Lewis Just a last thought on this one - In actual fact the only judgement a Tower Crane driver needs is the trolley distance along the jib. Peripheral vision is irrelevant as it the job of the driver to follow the instructions of the signaller. Thje signallers job is either to radio or place himself in direct sight line of the driver and the load - not to one side. If I were the employee I think I would be looking towards some form of action against the OH assessment as it is potentially deficient on the grounds that it has not fully comprehended the needs of the task. The woolly attempt to talk of a risk assessment is actually an attempt at a cop out in my view. If the assessment stands then a full medical retirement looks a certainty. If he is half as good as you state then it is a total waste of an experienced person. For me this smacks of "experts" thinking they know what the disabled really need. Bob Bob

Posted By Robert K Lewis Alex Yes, if I were the driver I would be looking very hard at my options. OH have effectively defined me as medically unfit for work and thus I am entitled to some form of ill health retirement package. Alternatively they have botched the assessment as they do not understand the task, the attempt to ask for site by siite risk assessments shows they do not understand my job, hence thay personally are liable for my loss of work. If he gets a half decent lawyer than I am sure that some sparks will follow. Even the HSE have avoided making rash statements over this. At the end of the day the OH people have somehow equated crane driving to FLT driving - which it is not. Every action by the crane driver during the lift is determined by the signaller. The driver executes instructions and without instructions simply halts the lift. Bob