Disability Doc

Question: What type of visual loss would prevent an individual from avoiding the ordinary hazards of the workplace?

Answer: Generally speaking, a loss of visual fields would have greater impact in this area than a loss of acuity, particularly if the loss is predominately in the inferior fields. However, another important factor that must be considered in this assessment is the nature and extent of environmental hazards of the individual’s past relevant work and any other work that would otherwise fall within his or her remaining functional capacity.

The phrase "inability to avoid ordinary hazards in the workplace” is primarily a reminder that consideration must be given to whether the visual loss (fields or acuity) would likely result in injury to the individual or others by bumping into, tripping over, or being hit by another person or object that commonly exists within the previous or anticipated workplace. Objects that could result in injury will vary depending on the work environment and the individual’s ability to visually detect those objects. For example, the objects could be such things as doors, walls, boxes, chairs or other furniture, dangerous machinery, elevated heights from which the individual could fall, or hot liquids or chemicals that could spill if bumped into.

Reference: DI 24510.006; 25020.005 A10; and Central Office Memorandum to San Francisco Regional Commissioner “Request for Policy Guidance on Evaluation of Claims Involving Reduction of Visual Acuity and Visual Fields” (dated 09/22/03 ).