RSI awareness week runs from 23 to 29 February 2004. RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) is the name given to a variety of musculoskeletal disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, tenosynovitis and tendonitis, also known as WRULDs (work related upper limb disorders), which account for 5.4 million lost working days each year in the UK. WRULDs are characterised by discomfort or persistent pain in muscles, tendons and other soft tissues, with our without clearly visible injury. Symptoms include pain, numbness, swelling, muscle weakness (for eg inability to grip firmly), crepitus (a cracking sound), tenderness, pins and needles, and loss or restriction of movement.
The Working Environment Unit is co-ordinating a campaign to raise awareness of the issue of RSI with our membership. We have a story on RSI week in the latest issue of the Health & Safety Newsletter, which will be sent to all officers, organisers and safety reps during January 2004. It will also be available by email from chris.o’leary@amicus-m.org and at http://www.amicus-m.org/weu.shtml.
The RSI Association has a dedicated RSI Awareness Week page at http://www.rsi.org.uk where there is a wealth of information on RSI including an online exhibition and downloadable information pack, including posters, fact sheets and stickers. We will have these printed in bulk so it would be helpful if you would let us know as soon as possible how many of these packs you would need in order to make this a successful organising campaign.
Clearly, this offers all of us an opportunity to campaign around an issue that many workers are aware is a significant hazard at work. We should be focussing on prevention rather than cure and we should be urging members and managements' to take the necessary precautions to avoid needless injuries and all the associated pain and suffering. Finally, although this is by no means a ‘fall back position,’ raising concerns about RSI and giving voice to the worries of members, increases the chances of successful litigation when it becomes necessary.