Reading List

This Reading List supports the course by pointing to authoritative UK-based legal guidance and professional standards relevant to health & safety in optical practice. It is aimed at optical professionals, practice managers, and health & safety leads.

UK Legislation and Legal Framework

• HSE: Managing risks and risk assessment at work - Practical guidance on identifying hazards, assessing risks, and taking action to eliminate or control risks under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) - Regulations governing hazardous substances like cleaning chemicals common in optical environments.
• Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 - Guidance on workstation assessments, eye tests, and administrative controls for DSE users.
• The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 - Guidance on selection, use and maintenance of PPE as a last control measure.

Optical Radiation and Equipment Safety

• Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations - Legal requirements for managing risk from optical radiation sources such as lasers and intense light systems.
• Guidance on the safe use of lasers, intense light source systems and LEDs - MHRA guidance for safe use of laser and light-based equipment in healthcare.

Workplace Safety and First Aid

• Using personal protective equipment (PPE) to control risks at work - Practical advice for choosing eye protection, gloves and other PPE.
• First aid in work: What to put in your first aid kit - Essentials for first-aid kits, including eye pads relevant in optical settings.

Incident Reporting and Regulation

• Specified, reportable injuries to workers (RIDDOR) - Criteria for reporting injuries such as vision loss or chemical burns under RIDDOR.
• Who regulates health and social care - Explains roles of HSE, CQC, MHRA and the GOC in health & safety oversight within optical services.

Workplace Equipment and DSE Health

• Eyes and eyesight testing - DSE users - Employers' duties to provide eye tests and corrective eyewear when needed for DSE work.

Optical Practice Scenarios and Risk Controls

• Optical radiation - including ultraviolet radiation and lasers - HSE guidance on eyewear and risk controls for laser use relevant to optical devices.

Each of these resources provides clear, UK-based guidance that aligns with themes in the course-such as risk control, record-keeping, equipment safety, and accountability-and can support continuous learning and compliance.