RSI still blights workplaces

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures showed that 213,000 people in work had a musculoskeletal upper limb or neck disorder (repetitive strain injury or RSI) that was caused or made worse by work in 2007/08 – around the same level since figures were first compiled in 2001/02. The figures were collated for the CSP by the Labour Research Department.

Pauline Cole, CSP spokesperson, said: “There is a clear opportunity for employers to do more to provide occupational health services both with regard to prevention of RSI and rehabilitation. The CSP is calling on the government to both encourage and enforce measures to address this with legislation, combined with incentives and best practice guidance. We may then begin to see some reduction in the rates of this almost completely preventable condition.”

The CSP is calling on government to make the provision of occupational health services a statutory duty upon employers and to provide incentives such as tax relief for employers to set them up.