Rlchard Pettlnger

REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY (RSI)

One part of stress management must address the potential and actual extent and prevalence of injuries and disabilities arising from physical stress. The term used is Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). The key areas which need to be considered are as follows.

» Computer and keyboard working where research strongly indicates that physical stress is caused to the eyes, the back, and the joints in the arms and fingers through extended periods of time in front of a VDU or working at a keyboard (Briner and Hockley, 1994). Workers in the EU are protected by statute which allows a maximum of 2.5 hours working before a break must be taken. Good practice and sound management will insist on this anyway.

» Back injury, which is endemic in nursing, social care for the disabled and elderly, and construction, civil engineering, and other related occupations. It may also be found in warehousing and some other service sectors (e.g. flight crews). The problem is caused by lack of adequate training in the best ways of lifting heavy loads on a regular basis; lack of adequate equipment available when staff need to lift heavy loads; lack of expertise or staff capability to use equipment that is provided. This is a serious problem in nursing and healthcare. It is compounded when there is a lack of managerial insistence that correct procedures and the right equipment are present and must be used.

TEN STEPS TO MAKING STRESS MANAGEMENT WORK 121
Organizations in which staff suffer extensive Repetitive Strain Injuries must take active steps to remedy the situation. When there is a failure at corporate and senior management levels to create and enforce adequate procedures and practices underpinned by training and the required equipment, the result will be a high cost for sickness and absence management.

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