Repetitive strain injury (rsi) in the workplace
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- 2What are the symptoms of RSI
- 6What should employers do to prevent RSI
- 7How can RSI be prevented
- 8How should workstations be set up
- 9How can computers be adapted to help prevent RSI
- 10What other aids can help prevent RSI
- 11What about laptops, tablets and smart phones
- 12How can AbilityNet help address RSI
- Our Workplace Assessment Service
- DSA/Student Assessments
- 13Useful links and resources
- My Computer My Way
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
AbilityNet Factsheet – September 2015 Repetitive strain injury (RSI) in the workplace This factsheet looks at repetitive strain injury (RSI) – the term most often used to describe the pain felt in muscles, nerves and tendons caused by repeated movement and overuse. It looks at the symptoms and causes of RSI (also known as Work Related Upper Limb Disorders) and the easy steps that individuals or employers can take to protect themselves or their staff. It is important that employers understand their legal responsibility to provide any ‘reasonable adjustments’ to protect their staff from injury and prevent discrimination. Computer use is one significant cause of RSI and this factsheet includes practical information on both reducing the risk and responding effectively to any cases that may arise in an office environment. Section 12 gives details of all the services that AbilityNet provides to reduce the risk and impacts of RSI on businesses, charities and individuals. Links to other helpful resources are given in Section 13.
1What is RSI? 3 2What are the symptoms of RSI? 3 3Why is RSI important? 3 4What causes RSI? 5 5Can RSI be treated? 5 6What should employers do to prevent RSI? 6 7How can RSI be prevented? 7 8How should workstations be set up? 8 9How can computers be adapted to help prevent RSI? 9 10What other aids can help prevent RSI? 10 11What about laptops, tablets and smart phones? 11 12How can AbilityNet help address RSI? 11 13Useful links and resources 13 14About AbilityNet 16 1What is RSI?Repetitive strain injury (RSI) refers to work-related injuries to the muscles, tendons, nerves and soft tissue in our upper limbs. It usually affects the neck, shoulders, forearms, elbows, wrists and / or hands. RSI is a painful and potentially debilitating condition that, if left untreated, can lead to permanent damage. RSI is quite often called something else. It is a kind of musculo-skeletal disorder (MSD) that is sometimes referred to as an upper limb disorder (ULD) or a work-related upper limb disorder (WRULD). It is also sometimes known as a cumulative trauma disorder or occupational overuse syndrome. 2What are the symptoms of RSI?There are two main types of RSI. In type 1 RSI, localised pain is the result of a recognised medical condition – such as tendonitis, cellulitis or carpal tunnel syndrome. In type 2 RSI, no specific diagnosis can be made and the injury is often referred to as non-specific upper limb pain or diffuse RSI. RSI symptoms can vary but often include:
3Why is RSI important?Statistics from the Labour Force Survey suggest that there are over 200,000 cases of work-related upper limb disorders (ULD) every year in Great Britain. In addition to the pain and discomfort experienced by so many individual workers, RSI also carries significant costs for employers. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimate that 3.2 million working days were lost in 2013/14 due to ULDs – with each person affected taking, on average, 15.9 days off work.
4What causes RSI?RSI can be caused or made worse by any type of work that requires you to use your arms to carry out repetitive tasks. The injury occurs as a result of overusing and straining muscle and tendons in the upper body. The most significant risk factors with the potential to cause RSI include:
RSI is most commonly caused by repeated actions that are carried out on a daily basis over a long period. A variety of office-type jobs can lead to RSI, such as data entry, typing at a computer or working in a call centre. It is important that your working environment is arranged, and your equipment set up, to enable you to work comfortably. Your work should also be organised to reduce the risk of you developing RSI. 5Can RSI be treated?If you develop any symptoms of RSI, you should speak as soon as possible to your employer or occupational health specialist about any ways that you could modify your working environment and tasks to relieve your discomfort or pain. More detailed advice on the kind of adjustments you might make is given below. However, if your symptoms persist despite attempts to modify your work activities then you should contact your GP. There is no single treatment for RSI. NHS Choices (see section 13) gives helpful information on a number of different treatments that can help with the condition. Depending on the specific diagnosis, possible treatment options for RSI include:
Some long-term sufferers of RSI use other types of complementary therapies (such as yoga and acupuncture) and relaxation techniques to help relieve their symptoms. It is important to address any possible symptoms of RSI as early as possible because, without appropriate adjustments and any necessary treatment, it may progress from mild to severe.
Not everyone goes through these stages in the same way and each individual case of RSI is unique. Nonetheless, the first pain, numbness or tingling experienced is a clear signal that you need to act and that your affected muscles and tendons need to rest and recover. Early intervention is key. A good physiotherapist – preferably a member of the Chartered Association of Physiotherapists (MCAP) – can provide a number of simple exercises to help alleviate early symptoms of RSI, hopefully leading to full recovery. 6What should employers do to prevent RSI?Employers have a legal duty to try to prevent work-related RSI and to ensure that anyone who already has the condition does not get any worse. In addition to the requirement to provide safe working conditions, employers also have a common law ‘duty of care’ towards their staff. Under the Health and Safety Act, employers must carry out a risk assessment of any task or equipment that may cause injury. This includes the set up of computer equipment and workstations. For staff who regularly use computers or laptops, employers must follow the guidance given in the Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Regulations. To reduce the risk of RSI or any other harm or injury, employers should also:
Employers who do not meet their statutory responsibilities for health and safety, or who fail in their duty of care, may be taken to an employment tribunal. One study by the HSE found that most of the compensation claims made against call centre operators came from RSI sufferers. Employers could also be vulnerable to claims of discrimination under the Equality Act, if they fail to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ for a disabled employee. 7How can RSI be prevented?Prevention of RSI is far easier than cure. Even if you do not have any symptoms it is certainly worth thinking about how you can adapt your work to reduce some of the main risk factors by:
In many respects, the way workstations were traditionally set up exacerbated the risk of RSI. However, even when workstations are set up well, some people may still require or benefit from additional hardware or software ‘solutions’ to help relieve their RSI symptoms. 8How should workstations be set up?Many injuries result from work surfaces being too high or too low, or requiring people to stretch and strain in awkward positions / angles. Therefore, making sure that your desk and computer equipment are properly set up and adjusted is the first step in preventing RSI. Maintaining a good posture (with a supported, erect back and relaxed shoulders) and adjusting your chair to the correct height that enables you to use the keyboard with your forearms and wrists straight – in a neutral position, parallel with the floor – is most important.
Simple measures using standard equipment that help to prevent RSI are:
See the AbilityNet factsheet on Workstation ergonomics for more detailed advice on how best to achieve a safe, comfortable and productive workstation. 9How can computers be adapted to help prevent RSI?Both Windows-based and Mac computers have accessibility features built into their operating system. My Computer My Way is an interactive web-based tool developed by AbilityNet that shows people how to take advantage of these accessibility features. As well as helping to make computers much easier to use for anyone with a sight, hearing or cognitive impairment, My Computer My Way also assists people with motor problems and helps to reduce the risk of RSI by making it easy for users to adapt their computer, mouse and keyboard and, also, the way they work. 10What other aids can help prevent RSI?Apart from the adjustments you can make to standard input devices, various non-standard keyboards and mice are available that can improve the positioning of your hands and wrist – thereby reducing strain. Possible options include:
The AbilityNet information sheet on Keyboard and mouse alternatives provides more detailed information on a wide range of alternative devices and options. Alternatively, voice recognition software can be used for dictating text and for starting and controlling programs through spoken commands. Further information is available in the AbilityNet factsheet on Controlling the computer with your voice. If you are getting symptoms in your dominant hand, it is not advisable to switch mouse use to your other hand. It is not so strong and could well soon display similar difficulties. Learning keystroke alternatives to limit mouse use is a preferable strategy, combined with early assistance from a good physiotherapist.
The growing numbers of people working on laptops and tablets from home, at telecentres, on trains, and in cafés and cars – also clearly carries additional risk associated with poor posture. So, despite greater awareness, the risks of RSI may be increasing due to our increasing use of computing devices for both mobile working and leisure activities. The main problem with laptops is that the keyboard is attached to the screen, with the poor posture this creates causing neck, back and arm problems. To reduce such risks when working with a laptop for sustained periods, good practice is to:
12How can AbilityNet help address RSI?AbilityNet is a leading authority on accessibility and assistive technologies. We can assist individuals, charities and employers by providing:
Our Workplace Assessment ServiceThis factsheet explains some of the options that may be useful in preventing or dealing with RSI in the workplace, but it cannot provide recommendations to suit each individual’s particular needs. AbilityNet’s Workplace Assessment Service provides a one-to-one holistic review. This will not only look at your immediate workstation, it will also consider work patterns, regular tasks and other factors which can impact on health and productivity. One size does not fit all. We believe that each case is unique and that individual attention is vital. Superficially similar cases may demand quite different approaches, and the solutions we propose are arrived at through discussion, evaluation of all the relevant circumstances and the trial use of alternative devices (where these are recommended). Our assessments integrate personal and technical considerations to arrive at sound and realistic suggestions, documented in a report. To find out more about our Workplace Assessment Service, please visit www.abilitynet.org.uk/workplace or call 01926 465 247. DSA/Student AssessmentsIf you have a disability and are in higher or further education, you may qualify for a Disabled Students Allowance (DSA). If you are eligible you will receive a free assessment and may qualify for a grant towards any adjustments that you might require. This could help with the costs of buying a new computer or any other specialist equipment you might need. For more information, visit www.abilitynet.org.uk/dsa or call 01926 464 095. Consultancy servicesOur expert consultants are also available to assist employers who wish to take a broad, longer-term view in designing computer systems and associated work processes. Our experience and expertise can help you to achieve safe, healthy and effective working procedures. To find out more about AbilityNet’s consultancy services, call 01962 465 247 or email sales@abilitynet.org.uk 13Useful links and resourcesAbilityNet factsheetsAbilityNet’s library of factsheets and information sheets provides an extensive range of practical advice about specific conditions and the hardware and software adaptations that can help people of any age use computers to fulfil their potential. Topics covered include:
All these resources are free to download from www.abilitynet.org.uk/factsheets My Computer My Way
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