Determination and application of vision standards in industry

Job-related vision standards benefit both employee and employer. By comparing employees' vision to specific job requirements, workers can be better placed into positions commensurate with their visual abilities. For a company without a vision care program, a project was undertaken to determine visual standards, and the need for vision care services for employees to better meet these standards. The critical factors for performing specific visual tasks for 40 job classifications were identified through direct observation and measurement, and through worker interviews. Additionally, a sample of employees was screened to determine plant population characteristics, and to determine what percentage of employees met the newly formed standards. This study can serve as a model for the application of visual standards to the workplace and is pertinent, as "reduced vision" is increasingly defined by government as a disability.