Repetitive strain injury
Repetitive Strain Injury or RSI is also known as work related upper limb disorder. The injury results from doing a particular activity repeatedly over a long period, for example, typing on a computer key board for prolonged periods without sufficient breaks. The repetitive movement and overuse of the muscles of the hands, wrists, arms or shoulders over time causes pain and immobility in the joints, nerves and muscles from fingers to the neck. You may later experience numbness and tingling making it difficult for you to hold objects.
It may take years before you start experiencing pain because it takes time for RSI to reach a level where it causes problems. If you suffer from repetitive strain injury you may be able to make a claim for compensation.
In most cases, RSI starts with a slight ache every now and then. However, as you continue performing the repetitive tasks in your work place, the damage to the muscles gets worse. When the situation becomes severe, you start experiencing pain most of the time even with the slightest movement.
The common symptoms of RSI are: pins and needles, numbness and weakness of the hand or fingers, inflammation of the tendons of the hand or forearm.
The medical names given to the various injuries caused by RSI are: carpal tunnel syndrome, epicondylitis, tennis elbow, tenosynovitis, trigger finger, rotator cuff syndrome, golfers elbow, tendonitis, peri-tendinitis and tennis elbow.
If you are experiencing muscle pain in your hands, wrists, arms or shoulders due to the repetitive nature of your work and your work environment you may be entitled to claim personal injury compensation.
What causes repetitive strain injury (RSI)?
RSI is mostly caused by unsatisfactory work stations, poor posture, excessive and stressful work, prolonged periods of work, lack of adequate breaks, sustained repetitive movement and overuse of muscles of the hands, wrists, arms or shoulders and patterns of work.
Who is at risk of suffering RSI?
- Computer Users: Computer users are at risk of suffering RSI because of the repetitive use of keyboards, awkward gripping and constant twisting movements necessitated by mouse use, poor posture and lack of adequate breaks.
- Check Out Cashiers: Check out cashiers are at risk of suffering RSI because of the repetitive nature of their work, poor postures, awkward gripping and the constant twisting, inadequate breaks and stressful work.
- Construction Workers: Construction workers at risk if they are engaged in repetitive tasks involving poor gripping and twisting movements, poor postures and the use of vibrating equipment such as electric drills, cold environment and inadequate breaks.
- Production Line Workers: Production line workers may be confronted by the following risks: repetitive activities, gripping and twisting movements, use of vibrating equipment, inadequate breaks, poor postures and poorly designed conveyor belts.
- Cloth cutters, manual sewers, pressers, yarn processors and machine operators. These workers are at risk of suffering RSI because of the repetitive nature of their activities, poor gripping, twisting movements and the use of vibrating equipment, poor postures or outstretched arms and insufficient breaks.
- Postal Sorting workers: Postal sorting workers are at risk of suffering RSI because of the repetitive nature of their work, gripping and twisting movements, use of vibrating tools, inadequate breaks, poor postures and poorly designed conveyor belts.
How does the health and safety law protect you?
The health and safety law requires employers to:
- Assess display screen equipment work stations and reduce risks.
- Ensure that work stations satisfy the minimum requirements ( must be clean, stable image, with adjustable contrast and brightness, be able to tilt and swivel and be free of reflective glare, keyboard must be tiltable and separate from screen, work desk surface must be sufficiently large, work chair must be stable and allow freedom of movement).
- Provide eye and eyesight tests
- Plan work to ensure there are appropriate breaks and changes of activity
- Provide training in the use of the work station
- Provide information to staff about all aspects of health and safety relating to their work stations.
- Satisfactory lighting conditions
- An adequate level of humidity must be established and maintained.
Proving that Your Employer Was at Fault
You will be able to prove that your employer was to blame if you can show that:
- Your employer failed to avoid the need for you to carry out the repetitive manual handling operations when the tasks involved a risk of causing you injury;
- Your employer negligently failed to make suitable and sufficient risk assessment of the repetitive tasks or the fact that the operations were likely to involve awkward bodily movement or posture;
- Your employer failed to provide you with training and information about all aspects of health and safety relating to your work station and the measures taken by your employer to comply with the health and safety law;
- Your employer failed to take appropriate steps to reduce the risk of injury to you;
- Your employer failed to provide you training in the use of your work station;
- Your employer failed to warn you of the risk of RSI injury.
If you are experiencing pins and needles, numbness and weakness of the hand or fingers, inflammation of the tendons of the hand or forearm due to the repetitive nature of your work, give us a call on 0800 321 3287 for free advice. You may be entitled to make a personal injury claim for compensation.