There is a significant lack of compliance with display screen equipment (DSE) regulations, it has been claimed.
Results
Although the legislation states employers must provide all screen users with tests and glasses – if required solely for DSE use – the study showed more than a third (39%) do not provide any eyecare at all for screen users.
Almost a third (30%) do provide eye tests for all – but not glasses – and 14% provide eye tests for some workers. Less than one in ten (7%) provide the full requirements – eyecare and glasses – but only for some screen users.
As a result, the full survey results revealed that 61% of employers were providing some level of eyecare – but only 10% were fully complying with the law.
Two-thirds are screen users
The study shows firms on average class around two-thirds (68%) of their employees as screen users. Regionally, this is 55% in Wales and as high as 77% in Yorkshire and Humberside.
Screen users are at their lowest in the food and drinks industry (42% of employees) – and the percentage of users is at its highest in the media – 94%.
Jim Lythgow, director of strategic alliances for Specsavers Corporate Eyecare, said: “The good news is that there is an overall willingness to provide eyecare – but this is not to the extent as required by law.
“We believe there are two vital elements in increasing the number of employers complying with the DSE regulations: the first is to ensure they are educated about the full requirements of the legislation; the second is to make DSE eyecare as simple and cost effective as possible to procure.”
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Worth noting that eyetests are free in Scotland, so the concept of employer provision doesn’t need to exist.
Oh were it so simple, as a refractive issue and not one of eye-strain and not binocular vision RSI’s linked directly to over-exposure to sub-optimal screen ergonomics..