Good afternoon all, two posts in one day!
I predict the answer to my question will be 'risk assess'. However, is anyone able to advise if an employer is obligated to provide free eye tests to business use drivers.

Note: I understand that drivers have responsibilities in law outside of work for driving.

DSE eye tests will also scoop up a number of these drivers but, as an employer would you / do you have a policy that includes two yearly eye tests for driving or do you ask for copies of employee eye examinations.

Cheers
Simon

achrn,
sounds like the way to go, many thanks!
Simon

DSE - specific legislated requirement upon the employer.

Mandatory eye protection on the employers premises - legislated requirement upon the employer under the PPE regs.

Driving - NOT an H&S mandated requirement but a specific condition of the persons employment contract (loose the licence / loose the job is the commonly terminology).

So when asked by accounts I will authorise the DSE / safety glasses test & prescription from the H&S budget whereas those contracted to drive as part of their employment are expected under the Road Traffic Act and other legislation to personally meet their individual licence requirements.

So personally I have DSE glasses supplied by the firm, Safety Glasses for the shop floor provided by the firm and my own personal glasses to enable me to drive the car to and from work - three unique prescriptions based upon the focal length required for each task.

Forgetting the OP question of eye tests the bigger issue that needs your serious consideration is the actual company driving policy - employees get older as a fact of life and whilst eye sight can deteriorate the ability of all company drivers to deal with the tribulations of modern driving and ever increasing business demands as their age increases is the area a business can exert its greatest direct control.

HGV/PSV drivers are regulated - those (Directors, Managers, Representatives etc.) who get a car as part of their employment contract are not. Why do firms perceive it acceptable for an employee to rise in the early morning drive up to four hours do an eight to ten hour work day then drive the return four hours home whilst a "professional" counterpart in the same business is limited by the rule of the Tachograph?

Surely if the Tachograph applies the minimum legislated control of driving then it should be the lowest adequate business policy for all company drivers?

If your managers are doing their daily commute driving laden HGVs and or buses full of passengers, then I agree with you.

Although I have reservations about this, many organisations insist on checking that anyone driving company or even their own vehicle for work reasons has valid documentation (to varying degrees). If this is thought to be worth the effort, how hard would it to be to add a specific declaration that the driver has recently re-checked that their eyesight meets the driving standard?
This information could be provided: outside read a car number plate 20m away, or inside use the PC version http://www.vutest.com/seedrive/index.htm. As the degree of 'duty' on employers on this is somewhat debatable, such a simple and cost-effective tactic should be adequate.
Various road safety initiatives carry out (voluntary) tests of eyesight at venues such as motorway services, which reveal that there is a high percentage of drivers who have substandard vision and do not realise it.