Joint Safety Institute Administrator’s Report

PRESCRIPTION SAFETY EYEWEAR PROGRAM

By Jim Barham, JSI Administrator

Employee Coverage: Employees who require the use of medically prescribed glasses to perform their primary work tasks and whose primary work tasks require the use of safety eye wear by Department policy and/or CalOSHA regulations.

Basic Benefits:

• Single, bi-focal & tri-focal vision lens in glass, plastic or polycarbonate material.
  
• Non-conductive frames with sideshields; no metal frame upgrade allowed for any employee involved in any electrical work. Two to three levels above “base” level frames will be provided to encourage/promote consistent usage.
  
• One pair of glasses will be provided each year. Damaged glasses will be repaired or replaced. Replacement of lost or stolen glasses will be unlimited.
  
• A second “special” pair of glasses will be provided for employees required to wear additional headwear to perform their primary tasks; i.e., welding helmets, SCBA masks, blasting/painting hoods, etc.
  
• Yearly eye exam
  
• UV protection included

Options:

• Lens - tinting, transition, etc.
  
• Frames - designer frames, etc.
  
• Glasses - additional pairs

The eligibility criteria is:

• Job classification: one which requires through its DDR performance of a task which exposes an employee to a risk of receiving eye injuries such as punctures, abrasion, contusions, or burns as a result of contact with flying particles, hazardous substances, projections or injurious light rays which are inherent in the work or environment - according to the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 8 (T8), Section 3382 - Eye and Face Protection.
  
• Employees: working in a designated job classification and who require the wearing of prescription eyewear to perform the normal duties as described in their respective DDR.
  
• BU Written Policy: employees in none designated/qualifying job classifications may qualify based on their specific job duties or location if based on written BU policy; i.e., clerical or engineering person working in generating plant/construction area/shop area having to venture into hazardous area on a regular basis based on normal duties. THIS IS A BU DECISION AND REQUIRES CONSISTENCY TO AVOID GRIEVANCES/DISPARITY!

If you or your employees have any questions regarding employee eligibility please direct them to your primary BU safety representative (or call DWP contact person, Ms. Lisa Frazier at 213/367-2044):

• Corp. Communications - ITS; Gary Talley x75922
• Corp. Services - Fleet Ops; Justo Guerra x76128
• Customer Services; Kevin Shost x21357
• Power Generation; Darren Billesbach x70621
• ISS Irv Chou x73021
• Power Trans & Dist; Fred Villa x14889
• Water Services Ruben Garcia x70965

Locating a VSP Doctor that Dispenses Safety Eyewear
VSP offers two convenient ways to locate a VSP doctor near your home or work, or to verify your current doctor is a VSP safety eyewear doctor:

• Call VSP’s Member Services Department at 800/877-7195. The VSP attendant will help you locate a provider by zip code or can name, and can verify your eligibility. *Request a “Safety Eyewear Provider” to obtain a wider selection of frames, etc.
  
• Visit www.vsp.com, simply sign-on from the VSP homepage by entering the covered member’s ID(1) to begin your search. You search for a doctor by name or location.