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Our Eye Test Policy ensures employees' visual health, compliance with regulations, and promotes overall wellbeing in the workplace.
1 Overview
1.1 Employees who are classified as 'users' of display screen equipment (DSE), also known as visual display units (VDUs), under the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992, have a legal right to request an eye and eyesight test.
2 Scope
2.1 This policy applies to all employees of [Company Name] who regularly use display screen equipment (DSE) as part of their work.
3 General Principles
3.1 Definition of a DSE User
3.1.1 You are considered a DSE user if the following conditions apply:
You regularly use DSE for continuous or near-continuous periods of one hour or more at a time.
You use DSE on a daily basis.
Fast information transfer between you and the screen is essential for your job.
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Employees who operate with display screen equipment (DSE) (either in the office or at home) have the right to request a free eye test under specified conditions. The obligations of employers in respect to such testing are outlined in Regulation 5 of the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 (SI 1992/2792). The Regulations are intended to detect any visual faults that may need to be corrected when an employee works with DSE.
The law says employers must arrange an eye test for display screen equipment (DSE) users if they ask for one, and provide glasses if an employee needs them only for DSE use.
DSE work does not cause permanent damage to eyes, but long spells of DSE work can lead to tired eyes.
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: This legislation places a duty on employers to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of their employees. It includes provisions for the regular assessment of risks, which may include eye health assessments for employees who use display screen equipment (DSE) as part of their work.
Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Regulations 1992: These regulations impose specific requirements on employers to ensure that employees who regularly use DSE, such as computers, have access to regular eye tests. Employers are also responsible for providing suitable corrective appliances (glasses) if needed.
Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 (Amendment) Regulations 2002: This amendment extends the scope of DSE assessments and includes home workers within the requirements for eye tests.
Equality Act 2010: This Act ensures that employees with disabilities are not discriminated against in the workplace. An eye test policy should consider the reasonable adjustments needed for employees with visual impairments.
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations: Depending on the industry and specific workplace conditions, there may be additional regulations that relate to eye health and safety, especially in roles that involve hazardous substances or activities.
Yes. This template has been designed for organisations of all sizes, including small businesses, charities and growing employers. It follows UK employment law best practice and can be adapted to suit your organisation.
Our templates are developed with UK employment legislation, Acas guidance and HR best practice in mind and are reviewed and updated as relevant requirements change. However, every employment situation is different, so the template should be adapted to the circumstances and checked against the employee's contract and your organisation's procedures before use.
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If you're looking for broader support, we also offer toolkits and library bundles that include the Eye test policy template, along with other HR templates and policies for fully managing your situation. These may be more cost-effective if you need deeper advice.
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Darryl Horn, Chartered HR Director
Darryl is a Chartered HR professional with over 25 years' experience in senior HR and employee relations roles.
He has extensive practical experience of managing health and safety processes and founded hrdocbox to provide businesses with practical, professionally developed HR resources grounded in UK employment law and best practice.
"Darryl provides support and advice with excellent judgement, and has a strong understanding of people, policies and UK employment legislation."
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