Global firm DB Schenker has been working with Specsavers Corporate Eyecare to educate its employees on the importance of clear vision for road safety.
The firm, which operates land transport, air and ocean freight, contract logistics and supply chain management in the UK, places a top priority on the highest standards of care for health and wellbeing. Coupled with a desire to meet its exacting corporate and social responsibilities, an entire week of driver awareness programmes were implemented surrounding Road Safety Week (23 to 29 November 2015).
Laura Butler and Suzanne Randall from Specsavers Corporate Eyecare spent a day at the company’s headquarters at London Heathrow, to conduct vision screening.
Laura Butler, key accounts manager at Specsavers Corporate Eyecare, said: “Vision screening is a simple test of how well a person can see. It is effectively a sight test but slightly more technical than just looking at the Snellen Chart (the chart of increasingly smaller letters used by opticians). This is an easy indicator of distance vision, which we are able to conduct on location at clients’ offices and facilities. It should not, however, be used in place of a full eye examination, which can detect a much wider range of conditions relating to not just eyesight but also the health of the eyes and even systemic disorders like diabetes and heart problems.”
Vision screening was performed on 32 employees at DB Schenker, six of whom did not reach the required standard for driving, according to the test. They have all been urged to visit their optician for a full eye examination.
Laura Butler continued: “We strongly advised anyone failing the vision screening to seek the in-depth testing facilities at their nearest optical store.”
Specsavers Corporate Eyecare also had a range of handouts and giveaways to tell DB Schenker’s employees more about the importance of driver vision and to help keep eyecare at the forefront of people’s minds.
Tiffany Argent, QSHE Manager at DB Schenker, said: “As a logistics company, we have a significant number of fork lift truck drivers, with also our sales and office staff use the roads to get to work. Clear vision is vital for all employees, no matter how much time they spend on the road.”
In partnership with Goldstar Heathrow, DB Schenker provided a whole week of awareness activities for Road Safety Week, including giving employees the opportunity to sit in a heavy goods vehicle to demonstrate how many blind spots there are. Employees across many branches throughout the UK took part in reverse parking refresher courses with local driving instructors and an online Highway Knowledge quiz, as well as being shown how to check for correct tyre depth.
