Eyecare regulations – cut confusion, cut costs
October 1st 2009 Jim Lythgow discusses the two main types of regulation governing eyecare in the workplace: the
stringent rules regarding the use of visual display units (VDUs); and the minimal but soon to be updated
rules surrounding the eyesight of those who drive in the course of their work
The Health and Safety (Display
Screen Equipment) Regulations
have been in force since 1992.
While they were set in place to safeguard
the eye health of all employees using
VDUs, they are very involved and in some
places rather ambiguous. Specsavers
Corporate Eyecare surveyed* 255
employers, representing over 210,000
employees, regarding interpretations of
the DSE regulations. The results showed
that although 88% of employers state they
are familiar with the regulations, only
70% think they are clear.
The survey went on to show further
confusion. The regulations state that the
employer must pay the cost of both the
eye examination and the full cost of basic
spectacles, if they are required for VDU
use. Well over three quarters (83%) of
respondents misunderstood this: 59% of
respondents believe the company should
make a contribution to glasses required
for VDU use, 20% believe the company
may make a contribution if they so wish
and 4% believe the employee should fund
the total cost.
While misinterpretations like this could
put the company in a difficult situation,
there were many more misunderstandings
that could directly cost a company
unnecessary money. The regulations
stipulate that the company is allowed to
nominate a chosen optician. Nearly half of
all respondents (48%) believe, however,
that it is up to the employee to decide
which optician they visit. Prices between
opticians can vary hugely, so companies
could be opening themselves up to huge
cost implications. In fact, in previous
research*, Specsavers discovered that 84%
of respondents believe, perhaps from bitter
experience, that the total cost of an eye-test
and glasses would be over £50 and some
were paying as much as £200. Considering
it is actually possible to purchase VDU
Vouchers to cover the cost of both the eye
examination and the full cost of spectacles,
if required, for just £17 – the overspend
across a company could be massive.
While much time and effort can be spent
apparently cost-cutting by trying to exclude
employees from eyecare schemes, a policy
of inclusion is often beneficial. Finding an
eyecare scheme that enables the company
to fully meet its obligations is perfectly
compatible with finding an eyecare scheme
that offers great value for money.
While the DSE regulations are
extremely involved, the rules regarding
eyesight for those who drive in the course
of their work are currently off the other
end of the scale.
The legislation covering eyesight
requirements for driving was set in the
1930s. Those who drive in the course of
their work only have to comply with the
basic vision test of being able to read a
number-plate at a distance of 20.5 meters.
This is worrying considering how traffic
conditions and vehicles have changed in
the last 70-plus years. Thankfully, new
legislation was passed in the EU Parliament
in 2006 and will be introduced in 2011.
The proposal is that commercial licence
holders will have their eyesight tested every
5 years, and holders of private licences will
be tested every 10 to 15 years. Each
member state will have until 2013 to
translate the directive into national law.
Driving safety research* conducted by
Specsavers Corporate Eyecare shows that
an update in the law is long overdue.
Disturbingly, the majority of employers
(53%) say they are worried that some
employees may be driving during the
course of their work when their eyesight is
not good enough to do so.
Misunderstanding the VDU regulations
can be costly in monetary terms, but not
providing adequate care for a driver's
eyesight could prove far more costly to
personal safety. The corporate
manslaughter act could also leave a
company open to an unlimited fine.
The message here is simple: it pays to
fully understand eyecare regulations.
Jim Lythgow is director of Strategic
Alliances for Specsavers Corporate Eyecare.
*Research undertaken on behalf of
Specsavers Corporate Eyecare by emedia
Free copies of the Specsavers Corporate
Eyecare guide to DSE legislation and the
Specsavers Corporate Eyecare guide to
Driving legislation are available by emailing
corporateeyecare@uk.specsavers.com More articles from Specsavers Optical Superstores Ltd: | 
