The industrial consequences of deficiencies of colour vision

A number of industries involved with coloured products were surveyed to assess the role of visual colour judgement in the processes and determine the industrial handicap of defective colour vision. The colour vision testing policies of the individual companies were investigated and an attempt was made to discover the industrial mistakes which could be attributed to defective colour vision. Visits were made to selected Industries to supplement information obtained from a postal survey. Discussions with Employment Medical Advisers and Industrial Medical Officers proved to be valuable. A field trial to determine the performance of paper colour matchers at standard colour vision tests was undertaken. A number of industrial jobs involving colour judgement were simulated in the laboratory. One hundred colour defective observers and a group of colour normals took part in the tasks, and an analysis of their performance is presented. In particular, comparisons are drawn between performance at these tasks and scores on standard colour vision tests. An enquiry into the colour vision tests used in school medical examinations was made and the career guidance given to colour defective children throughout England and Wales was studied. A list of occupations, jobs and careers which are likely to cause difficulty to the colour defective are presented. Finally recommendations concerning colour vision testing in industry are given