Health & Safety Update (March 2009)
More needs to be done to prevent repetitive strain injury
(RSI), say physiotherapists
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) is calling on the
Government and employers to do more to prevent and reduce
repetitive strain injury (RSI) amongst British workers. The latest
figures from the HSE show that 213,000 people have a
musculoskeletal upper limb or neck disorder that was caused or made
worse by work in 2007/08. It is evident from statistics that there
has been little progress in tackling the problem of RSI in the last
six years.
The CSP is concerned that RSI seems to be a low priority for
many employers. According to the their figures, RSI costs employers
around £300m per year in lost working time, sick pay and
administration. An estimated 2.8 million working days were lost in
2007-08 due to RSI, with on average each person affected taking
over 13 days off sick.
The CSP is calling on the Government to:
- Make the provision of occupational health services a statutory
duty upon employers;
- Promote the business and social case of providing occupational
health services with a particular emphasis on the effectiveness of
early intervention;
- Provide financial incentives to employers, such as tax relief,
on the provision of occupational health services.
The CSP sees a clear opportunity for employers to do more to
provide occupational health services both with regard to prevention
of RSI and rehabilitation. The CSP wants the Government to both
encourage and enforce measures and to address the issue with
legislation combined with incentives and best practice
guidance.
The condition is almost completely preventable and it is clear
that more needs to be done to prevent RSI from occurring in the
first place and, if it does occur, to provide early intervention
treatments to prevent the problem getting so bad people have to
stop work altogether.
Call the 24/7 advice line or contact your dedicated Consultant
for guidance on avoiding this condition.