Repetitive Strain Injury (sometimes known as RSI) is often caused by overuse of the muscles in the hands arms wrists and shoulders. It can be caused by repetitive tasks, using force, exposure to vibrations or working in cramped or awkward conditions for prolonged periods of time.It can be caused by your working environment and if you can show that your employer has failed to take proper care of your safety, then you may be able to recover compensation.

What are the common symptoms of RSI?

Given that RSI often arises as a result of repeated or excessive repetitive movements, symptoms can include tenderness and aching in the affected area, throbbing sensations and tingling and numbness. These symptoms can often take a long time to develop and sometimes at the beginning, only slight pain will be felt which can develop in severity the longer the exposure to repetitive patterns of working. Symptoms can often be diffuse and difficult to categorise and often involve nerve and tendon problems.

What are the most common causes of RSI?

It mostly occurs in those people whose work involves repetition. Working at computers is a common example and some of the more successful cases for compensation have involved office workers who have been spending long periods of time working on keyboard without any proper ergonomic equipment that is equipment meant to alleviate pressure on the hands and wrists, such as keybaord rests, having desks and chairs that are adjustable to the individual needs and ensuring that the computer is at the correct height and position.

Factory workers on repetitive conveyor belt type jobs and cleaners using buffing and cleaning machines for long periods of time are also victims.

Can it be prevented?

As it is mostly work related, employers can take steps to minimise the risks of the workforce getting RSI.This will include proper risk assessments, ensuring that equipment is regularly maintained. Regular breaks and rotation of jobs is also necessary.

Diagnosis of RSI is often difficult but if you are suffering from pain in your wrists hands fingers or shoulders and are doing repetitive work like data input for example or working on an assembly line you should seek advice from your GP. Treatment will include the use of anti inflammatory medications and possibly physiotherapy.

Have I got a claim?

An employer is responsible for providing a safe system of working and if it can be shown that your working environment:
• Could have exposed you to the risk of developing RSI
• That your employer failed to take any steps to alleviate the risk of your developing RSI, by for example giving sufficient breaks, or rotating your daily jobs; and
• That your RSI was caused by those failures, that is the sort of work you were doing and your employers failure to either recognise the risks or doing anything about them, you may be entitled to compensation.

It is important to realise that injuries like RSI can develop over months or years but as soon as you connect your problems to your work then you should seek legal advice as there are time limits for bringing claims.

What Compensation can I expect?

Compensation awards vary depending on the severity, the effects on your working life in the short and long term and your own individual circumstances like age, ability to find other work and so on. You should seek specialist legal advice at the earliest opportunity.