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Lyndsay McClelland
Member - 3 posts
We have a placement student who has been informed that she needs glasses only for use with computers. She is an IT student. Is the company liable for the cost of her eye test and any glasses prescribed?
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Carole Simmons
Member - 52 posts
How much time does she spend on the computer - 8 hours a day or is it just part of her duties that she pops in and out of? How long has she been with you and how long is the placement for?
If she is on a long term placement 6-12 months and she is doing mostly computer work (a vdu worker) then it would be reasonable to pay £15 towards an eye test and our company allows £49 every two year period for glasses.
If she is only with you for a few weeks and does not do much computer work or is not classed as a VDU worker then you may decide not to pay.
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Emma McAuley
Member - 16 posts
We pay for an eye test bi-annually and contribute towards the cost of glasses (£50) for 'essential users' of VDUs and company car drivers who reuqire glasses for that particular use. Every employee conducts an individual self assessment annually to identify essential users and the expense claim is signed off by the manager.
I would think that if you have a policy at all, this should apply to both permanent and temporary workers so as not to be treating the temp work less favourably. If you have no policy, then you have nothing to apply and just need to make a decision about how you wish to proceed.
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Nigel DuPree
Member - 134 posts
Lyndsay - a few foundation questions for Student 1. 'Informed' by who - Oc-health Disability Advisor or Optician? As, if an IT student they should already have identified any appropriate aids required !! Nevertheless, 2. Do you not have an in-house VRA (Visual Risk Assessment) for DSE operators ? 3. Has the student undergone pre-use training for DSE, 4. does the student exclusively use her 'own workstation' or hot desk and use any workstation available ? (No special provision then required for multiple use DSE) 5. Is the student employed / contracted by company or on work experience placement ? (Employees qulify for "on-demand" risk assessment) 6. Does the student experience solely a refractive problem associated with DSE mitigated by glasses or need reading glasses as well ? 7. Does the student use DSE for more than an hour per day but less than 5 ? (degree of Risk) 8. Does the student experience "Screen Fatigue" or CVS (Computer Vision Syndrome) or CI (Convergence Insufficiency) not mitigated by glasses? Your response to defined risk should be "reasonably practicable" and proportionate and sounds like still don't know what RISK is to DSE user?
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Andrew Griffiths
Member - 2 posts
If the student is being paid by you then they would be classed as an employee, whether temporary or not. The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations specifically require employers to pay for regular eye sight tests for VDU users. (VDU user is defined as someone who habitually uses VDU/DSE for a significant part of thier role. It has also been defined as someone who uses VDU/DSE for an hour or more per day). Normally the regularity of the eye sight test is determined by the optician, howewver every 2 years would be the normal recommendation, unless the employee complains of eye fatigue or other symptoms which could be associated with the use of VDU/DSE, such as head aches, etc. With regard to the provision or contribution to corrective lenses or specticles the employer is only required by the regulations to pay towards glasses or lenses which are specifically required solely for VDU/DSE use. In other words if they need glasses for reading or driving it is thier responsibility (the employees) to purchase thier own glasses. The employer only needs to pay for the glasses if the employee can leave them on thier desk once DSE/VDU work is completed. If you do need to pay for corrective glasses you can easily purchase glasses with single vision lenses for £50.00.
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Carole Simmons
Member - 52 posts
You say that two years would be the normal recommendation. if an employees optician specifically states that eye tests should be carried out every year but an employer says their policy is to only pay every two, what should the employee do - swallow the costs every other year or insist the company pays?
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Nigel DuPree
Member - 134 posts
Replay - Back to basics, Health & Safety can not be delegated and nor does it descriminate between a fork lift truck and a display screen in terms of training and prior competence to use the equipment safely. With the exception that DSE operators may request a 'risk assessed' ON DEMAND if, they find use of equipment has an affect on there wellness and/or ability to perform tasks. (Some DSE operators perform safety critical tasks)
If this should have remained unreported in the event of harm or injury they would, of course, be found in part 'negligent' for not reporting the increased risks associated with the so called temparary affects of Screen Fatigue.
These temporary affects are founded in "Visual Stress" and may last a few minutes to hours and apart from increased risk of eye and headsches at best may at worst affect balance and the capacity to judge distance and speed resulting in anything from minor mishaps like a trip to more serious misjudgement on a flight of stairs or in a car park or on journey home.
The employer is liable to provide assistive aids in mitigation of any risk.
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Lyndsay McClelland
Member - 3 posts
Thanks for all the feedback! Although the student is a 3rd year student and my first reaction was the same as Nigels that is that any problem should have already been addressed before a placment. The student was seen by an optician as she had started getting headaches while in work. The prescription states that the glasses required are only for VDU use so I have followed in Emma's footsteps and made a recommendation to the MD that we pay for eye test upon request bi-annually and pay £50 towards glasses that are prescribed solely for VDU use. Just awaiting approval!
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Nigel DuPree
Member - 134 posts
He may be happier when he finds out the glasses belong to the company as assistive technology associated with DSE use........
Nevertheless, if DSE operator student person continues to report or experience eye-headaches they may have other visual problems not linked to any refractive deficit and may require the display to be optimised to overcome any insidious visual stress found in those who suffer "Screen Fatigue"
Portsmouth University currently undertaking research into subject if student wishes to volunteer to participate contact:
John Butlin at Blue Door tel. 02392 844 444
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