Hi folks. My employer has asked me to look into the issue of providing prescription safety specs for our staff who need them. We work in an engineering firm, servicing and building plant and control systems. A few of the guys wear glasses and obviously need correct safety type glasses for some areas of the shop, but it i snot a blanket policy as we have very little work that would create debris\shards etc. Obviously the VDU regulations state safety glasses are needed for users and most staff have access to a PC at their workstation, however i do know that there is no real legislation in place that means employers MUST provide funds for prescription specs etc. However as the guys have to wear their glasses would this not come under the PPE requirements that we must provide suitable protection and as these guys need their glasses they cant use over specs as they are usually very unpopular and would not be worn. I am aware many employers put up say £50 towards the cost, but the safety reps feel it should be the employer that pays for the frames, lenses etc.# I am trying to work out a compromise, but i want to give my boss all the facts. any help or experiences would be welcome. cheers all.

This is a PPE issue. Risk Assessment should be completed and actioned.

Contrary to the previous respondents views, there is not a requirement to provide free prescription specs. The legal duty to provide free ppe extends only to "overspecs" or goggles etc. This is a hoary old topic which I first got involved with back in 1976 when I became British Leyland's Group Safety Adviser. We negotiated and agreed a deal with the Unions with the knowledge and involvement of the HSE that we would supply prescription specs on the basis of the phrase "We pay for protection, you pay for correction". Our employees were offered a weekly payment scheme for the prescription charge and corrective supplement. All 100,000 employees were offered fitted plano or corrective specs in identical frames, subject to any special ppe needs. This policy was fully implemented and the HSE confirmed that in their view this fully met legal requirements, and indeed it was never challenged. There has been no subsequent change of legality and I remain of the view that this is fully legitimate. Dave Daniel - Safety Consultant

Richard, you appear to have all the pertinent facts. Provision of prescription safety specs is a discretionary matter, over glasses or goggles are an acceptable alternative. Before I went down the "goodwill" path of offering these I'd want to review the current regime & culture of issue, care & maintenance of existing safety eyewear and PPE. If the safety specs around your workshops aren't being worn, are carelessly stored and covered in scratches etc. then you've got bigger problems to address. No point in shelling out for prescription specs if they'll be covered in scratches, broken or lost within weeks.

I think you'll be hard pressed to argue that you are compliant with The PPE regs 4(3)(c) if you supply over glasses for your employees rather than prescription ones. They are uncomfortable to wear for long periods and aren't really practicle for a lot of tasks. For a reasonable cost you can supply prescription safety glasses and maintain the goodwill you seem to have. I've done lots of work on LEP compliance and a major factor in improving or maintaining it is to ensure you have a good selection to choose from to suit all face types

Dont forget ergonomics; as over glasses and similar are not; in my personal view, good enough and unless U can clearly prove [note that I have said 'prove'] to all concerned that the 'Ray Charles special' over glasses are good enough U will not be on a winner noting that only a court will give a legal ruling irrespective of any other areas It appears that this is a mountain out of a mole hill case considering the good workforce that U have but take note of the good advice already given especially about good PR etc. And dont set unnecessary standards - keep control of what U are doing