RSI — Your Career could be at stake
Source: RSI Association
What can you do - general
Find out as much as you can about RSI. Use this website, the RSI Association websites, Factsheets and the other sources of information referred to.
Look at the risk factors inherent in your job and lifestyle. Often when people contact the RSI Association it is because something has occurred, an increase in workload or change of environment, which proves to be the final straw.
Minimising the risks means removing as many straws as possible from the camel's back; cutting down on repetitive tasks, improving posture and overall fitness and reducing stress.
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Ergonomics
The range of treatments for repetitive strain injury is quite diverse and growing all the time. However, prevention being better than cure, the chances of continued good health are greatest when steps are taken to minimise the risk of injuries developing.
Many conditions appear to be cumulative rather than sudden and prevention includes understanding the ergonomic factors which are implicated in RSI. These include work station design and environmental factors such as vibration and climate.
Consider all the ways and circumstances in which your equipment or system is being used and then ask yourself:
- does it suit your body size?
- can you see and hear all you need to readily?
- do errors occur frequently, and is it easy to recover from them?
- is it compatible with other systems in use?
- does the equipment or system cause discomfort if you use it for any length of time?
- If so, do other users have similar reactions?
Such questions can help to identify possible mismatches between the abilities and physical attributes of people and the demands of the equipment with which they work. A systematic evaluation by trained staff may be needed to identify more obscure problems.
Workplace health & safety
All employers, and the self employed, have Statutory and Common Law duties to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees. Employees have a duty to look after their own (or others affected by their work) health and safety, and to follow training etc and use equipment etc in a safe manner.
The Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974 covers this in high level, general wording.
The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 which cover the use of computers, require specific Risk Assessments of users' workstations to minimise or eliminate risks. Risk Assessments must also be undertaken for home workstations or other forms of flexible working (e.g. use of laptops).
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 require work equipment to be suitable for the purpose and that risks to the health or safety of users are either prevented or adequately controlled (minimised to an acceptable level). Examples of work equipment that might cause RSI (or related problems, such as Vibration White Finger etc) include production line equipment, power drills, strimmers, machine cutters, staplers etc
- Avoiding of the risk of any further damage
- A full and accurate diagnosis of the condition/s affecting the patient
- An appropriate treatment to clear the blockage (the efficacy of treatments varies according to the condition/s and circumstances of the individual)
- Activities to stimulate blood flow (including avoiding activities which restrict circulation)
- Return to work slowly
Source: RSI Association
