UK firms have failed to tackle RSI

Repetitive strain injuries (RSI) are as big a problem now as they were at the turn of the century.

Latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that 213,000 people in work had a musculoskeletal upper limb or neck disorder that was caused or made worse by work in 2007-08. The figure was 222,000 in 2001-02. There were 81,000 new cases in 2007-08 compared to 87,000 new case in 2001-02.

Physiotherapists are alarmed over the lack of progress and are calling on the government to encourage employers to do more to prevent and reduce RSI.

Employers already have a legal duty to prevent the occurrence of risks of injury or illness, which are reasonably foreseeable in relation to their employees. But this clearly not happening.

Preventing your employees getting RSI makes sound business sense but British employers it seems just do not get it. RSI costs them around £300 million every year in lost working time, sick pay and administration. According to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, about 2.8 million working days were lost in 2007-08 due to RSI. However, the condition is usually preventable or treatable with help from a physio.

Drug company AstraZeneca started a wellbeing programme for its 10,000 UK staff in 2000 and through rehabilitation, treatment, access to sports facilities and health screening, has achieved absence levels that are 31% lower than average.

But they're the exception. Only one employer in eight provides rehabilitation services and just 6.5% of small businesses provide any access at all to occupational health services for their employees. No wonder, a recent TUC survey found that 40 per cent of workers felt RSI was a safety concern.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is calling on 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 incentives to employers, such as tax relief, on the provision of occupational health services

In a recession reducing unnecessary staff sickness is clearly key. The business for RSI prevention has never been stronger.

• RSI and how to prevent it.
• If your RSI was caused by work and your employer could and should have prevented it, you could have a legal case against them so see your trade union.