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RSI a major pain for workers and bosses, say physios
The number of employees suffering from potentially debilitating work-related upper limb disorders is on the increase, physios' union CSP has warned. It said official statistics showed a 'massive' 448,000 British workers now suffer from repetitive strain injuries (RSI), a jump of 52,000 since 2001/02. Workers most likely to be affected were in the health and social work sector, followed closely by those in construction and manufacturing. Rates were also rising among those employed in the communications, transport and education industries. A total of 4.7 million working days were lost through RSI in 2003/04, the official figures showed. CSP said employers can put simple procedures in place to protect both workers and businesses, reducing sick leave and staff turnover rates. CSP advises that three simple steps can protect workers: Risk assessments for each staff member; early reporting of symptoms and access to appropriate help; and ensuring employees are able to organise their work and take regular breaks. Hugh Robertson, head of health and safety for the TUC, said the increase in the number of cases of RSI was worrying, especially as the problem could so easily be prevented. 'You would expect after so many years of awareness of the causes of RSI that numbers would be going down. The fact they are going up shows employers' cavalier disregard for employees' safety and their own legal responsibilities,' he said.
Briefing document (300 words) issued 16 Sep 2005
