Determination and application of vision standards in industry

Visual Examination Standard for Forklift and Crane Operators: A Report for 66 Operators of a Factory in Mumbai

Context:

Forklift and crane industry in India is progressing at a rapid pace and the visual integrity of the operators is crucial for occupational safety. Hence, we performed a vision screening at a factory based in Mumbai.

Aims:

To evaluate the current visual status of forklift and crane operators working at a factory in Mumbai.

Settings and Design:

Prospective observational cross-sectional.

Methods and Materials:

All forklift and crane operators were invited to undertake visual examination that included visual acuity (VA) assessment, refraction, slit-lamp examination, color vision assessment, visual field assessment, and stereopsis. Referrals were made for participants who needed further assessment.

Statistical analysis used:

Mean and standard deviation were calculated and presented.

Results:

A total of 66 forklift operators with an average age of 48 years that ranged from 26–60 years completed the study. The average distance VA in LogMAR with current spectacles was 0.1 ± 0.14. The near VA with usual spectacles averaged at 0.63 M ± 0.2 M. The best-corrected VA (BCVA) of 0 LogMAR was not achieved by 12% subjects; however, all participants except one met the 0.3 LogMAR visual acuity criteria. The average stereopsis was 55.8 ± 47.8 with 8% operators had lower than acceptable levels of stereopsis while 7% could not meet the set criteria. One operator had 400 s of an arc and 4 had 100 s of arc stereopsis.

Conclusions:

The study demonstrates an urgent need to set up standards for vision assessment at the time of employment and frequency of eye examination for forklift and other powered industrial vehicles.

Evaluation of Visual Function Requirements for Public Jobs in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: Certain occupations and career paths require potential candidates who meet certain visual standards that allow them to apply or hold realistic possibilities for career advancement. AIM: This study aims to assess the visual function requirements for public jobs in Saudi Arabia and compare them with international standards. METHODS: Interview with eye care specialists in the fields of optometry and ophthalmology was conducted. This interview was consisted of seven pre-approved questions on current vision health requirements for eyesight-dependent careers. RESULTS: Interview responses revealed the existence of several visual requirements which were visual acuity, color vision, and visual field. These requirements are essential for various government jobs and functions, with examinations of applicants being necessary for acceptance of a vacancy or subsequent career progression. CONCLUSION: Many government positions of employment require predefined level visual standards which are not widely known. Defining what these standards are and making them publicly accessible will aid both future candidates in better planning their employment options and specialists in providing the required standards on request.

Visual demand, visual ability and vision standards for hairdressers - An observational study from Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to create vision standards for various tasks performed by hairdressers and to assess the spectacle compliance and its impact at work.

Methods:

The observational cross-sectional study enrolled hairdressers in and around Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It was done in three phases: (i) Job profiling from visual task analysis, creating vision standards for various hairdressing tasks and arriving at test protocols; (ii) Comprehensive eye examination, and (iii) Assessment of spectacle compliance and its impact on work. Descriptive analysis using Microsoft Excel and SPSS (IBM SPSS Statistics Version 21.0) was performed.

Results:

There were 305 participants with a mean age of 48 (SD ± 12) years. The visual acuity demand was found to be 6/18 and N15, for distance and near, respectively. Appropriate spectacles were prescribed for 203 (67%) hairdressers. Even with the best possible refractive correction, a few hairdressers did not meet the distance (13) and near (11) visual acuity standard. In all, 54 hairdressers were referred for further examination to a tertiary eye care center for lenticular changes, retinal abnormalities, and glaucoma screening. Among the subjects who were dispensed with spectacles, 181 (86%) were available for telephonic spectacle compliance assessment, and 164 (90%) were compliant with spectacle usage at work. Improved visual ability was reported by 133 (81%) hairdressers at work.

Conclusion:

This study provides vision standards for hairdressers. From the visual task analysis, hairdressing tasks were found to be visually demanding and hazardous. The study emphasizes that providing appropriate spectacle correction showed a clinically evident positive impact at work.

The functional impact of amblyopia

Amblyopia is the most common disorder managed in paediatric ophthalmic practice in industrialised countries. Reports on the impact of amblyopia on tasks relevant to the activities of children, or on skills pertinent to their education and quality of life, is leading to greater understanding of the functional disabilities associated with the condition. This review considers the extent to which amblyopia affects the ability to carry out everyday tasks, with particular attention to studies of motor skills and reading proficiency in children. Collectively, these studies show that amblyopia results in poorer outcomes on tests of skills required for proficiency in everyday tasks and which relate to childhood academic performance. However, the relative contributions that the documented vision anomalies inherent in amblyopia contribute to various functional disabilities is not fully determined. Recent reports have demonstrated improvement following treatment in standardised measures of fine motor skills involved in practical, everyday tasks. Including measurement of functional performance skills in amblyopia treatment trials is desirable to show treatment effect on crucial, real-world activities.

Establishing pre-employment vision standards for goldsmiths

Background:

The process of jewellery making involves the goldsmiths working with tiny visual tasks at closer working distances, which demands high visual ability.

Aim:

To establish vision standards for Goldsmiths.

Materials and Methods:

Visual task analysis was carried out in different Goldsmith workstations. The minimal visual demands of the jobs were determined based on Grundy's nomogram. Depending on the importance of certain visual functions to perform the job, criteria for visual competency was laid down. Visual abilities of goldsmiths were evaluated in order to determine their visual capability status, based on the previously laid criteria. Job competency status of goldsmiths was determined based on the supervisors’ grading with respect to the quality and quantity of work. Visual competency and job competency of goldsmiths were then compared in order to establish vision standards.

Results:

Visual task analysis was carried out in 91 workstations. The median of working distance, work area, critical size of the task, and illuminance were 23 cm (IQR: 20- 29), 514.5 Sq Cm (IQR: 183-746.5), and 536.5 lux (IQR: 170-536.5), respectively. Visual abilities of 113 goldsmiths were evaluated. 44.7% of goldsmiths were found to be visually competent. Job competency status of 30 goldsmiths was obtained, in which 18 (60%) were found to be highly job competent. Based on the visual demands, vision standard for jewellery makers was developed.

Conclusion:

The vision standards so obtained could be used as minimum visual requirements for the entry level Goldsmiths.