I don't think companys do have to pay for an eye test. I thought you only needed to remind staff that they must meet the stadards required under road safety.

There is information on the HSE web page regarding this or you can phone the help line.

I include some notes from a past district meeting:
Jim Lythgow reminds duty-holders of the importance of protecting employees’ eyesight, particularly in light of pending legislation on incorporating eye examinations into driving tests....

Eyes on the road
While computer users are an obvious group of workers requiring eye care provision, an often-overlooked group is those who drive for work. It is a worrying truth that most companies in the UK fail to ensure that drivers in their employment can see clearly enough to drive safely.
Until now, there has been no legal imperative for industry to make sure drivers comply with minimum sight requirements. As long as drivers are able to pass the mandatory sight test during their driving test, i.e. the ability to read a number plate from 20.5m, they do not have to prove the fitness of their eyesight ever again. But, as most people’s eyesight changes considerably as they age, especially after they reach about 40, it is inevitable that a large proportion of the country’s driving population cannot see as well as they should.
But this alarming situation is about to change. Legislation passed in the European Parliament in 20062 is set to be implemented in member states in 2011. The current proposal is that holders of commercial driving licences will have to have their eyes tested every five years, and holders of private licences every 10-15 years. Shorter periods between eye tests can be applied for new drivers, those over 50, or for specific medical reasons. All applicants for the new EU driving licences will need to undergo a visual acuity test, which will include distance acuity (monocular and binocular), visual fields, and a red/green colour test. The directive does not set minimum standards for vision, and the coded requirement for vision correction on the licence means that anyone stopped by the Police will be identifiable as needing corrective lenses.
The changes are expected to lead to fewer accidents, reduced insurance costs, and earlier detection of such eye conditions as cataracts and glaucoma. The member states have until 2013 to translate the directive into national law, although some, such as Denmark and Switzerland (although not an EU member, the directive will also apply there), already implement some of the requirements.
Britain’s business community does not always embrace EU directives with enthusiasm or warmth, but there is an appetite for legislation that will make drivers’ working lives safer. Many employers are concerned that some of their staff may be driving during the course of their work when their eyesight is not good enough to do so.
Having an eyecare policy to test the eyesight of all employees, and which is clearly communicated to the workforce so that they are aware of their own duties and rights, is therefore crucial. While misunderstanding the DSE Regulations can be costly financially, not providing adequate care for a VDU user or driver’s eyesight could prove far more costly to personal safety. The message is clear: it pays to provide good eyecare for staff.
References
1 Specsavers Corporate Eyecare surveyed 187 employers representing 448,000 employees last month
2 Directive 2006/126/EEC on driving licences replaced directive 91/439 on 19 January 2009 – http://ec.europa.eu/tran...r/driving_licence_en.htm
Hope this is of use.

Badger

importany!? I also need my eyes testing!

Interesting stuff. So I will have to have an eye test every 10-15 years in order to maintain a licence to drive my private vehicle. Commercial drivers will have to do the same every 5 years.
Now I can see the wisdom and risk reduction benefits for society in general from such an overall approach but why on earth should I expect my employer to pay for the test? They don't pay for my licence which is actually proof that I met the required competence standard but they do check that it is still valid. Someone without a licence is just a great a risk as someone with a partial sight defect surely?

I imagine that from a duty of care aspect a simple extension to include a check for an up to date eye test in with all the current checks would suffice. Maybe for those who need a commercial licence in order to work it may become an employers expense but I am not yet convinced of even that. Anyone who already requires corrective lenses will be in a regime of a check about every two years, are employers going to pay for those checks or just the one every 15 years?

The evidence alluded to in the note suggests that after 40 years of age eyesight changes considerably. So I have test at 40 and will not need another until I am 55!! QED I think.

Thank you all.

I never knew of this proposed legislation but very interesting stuff.

Would this mean going forward that a full eye-test will be incorporated into a company medical if you cannot already prove that you are a specs wearer and take your own eye tests?
A full thorough eye test (which can last up to an hour!) would be costly for companies surely.

Mark

Very Interesting,
It may surprise you to know that a person holding a professional driving entitlement who is over the age of 45 has to undergo and pass a medical examination every five years in order to maintain that entitlement. It goes without saying that the medical includes a strict eyesight test, (professional driver eyesight standard is higher than ordinary licence holders.)

Most professional drivers must pay in excess of 90 pounds from their own pocket with no tax allowance for this expenditure despite the fact that it is wholly and exclusively incurred for work.

Most opticians would advise a professional driver to have their eyes examined every two years to ensure they meet the standards prescribed by current legislation.

Perhaps we should introduce a system where all drivers over the age of 45 have to take a medical and renew their licence every 5 years which would increase general practitioner income dramatically and possibly improve road safety as people who fail the medical have their driving licence revoked.

Remember, the safest form of road travel statistically is the Public Service Vehicle, SRICTER REGULATION?