Information is an essential resource for all businesses today and is the key to growth and success. However, companies have to ensure that the information held on their IT systems is secure. 

Health and safety: tackling RSI

by Sara White

Reliance on the computer, smartphone and BlackBerry may have made life easier, but it is leading to increasing reports of incidences of repetitive strain injury (RSI). Work-related RSI cases are at an all-time high and the cost to business is spiralling, as changing trends see professional staff working on the move more than ever before.

The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) most recent figures (2006-07) show that the number of new cases, as well as the overall number of people affected, has risen. RSI costs employers almost £300 million per year in lost working time, sick pay and administration. An estimated 3.5 million working days were lost in 2006-07 due to RSI, with each person affected taking over 13 days off sick. However, RSI is usually preventable or treatable with help from an occupational physiotherapist.

Over two thirds (68 per cent) of office workers suffer from aches and pains with the most common symptoms including back ache, shoulder pain and wrist/hand pain as a result of working on the move in cramped or awkward positions, according to the latest research commissioned by Microsoft and conducted by Strategy One.

The poll of over 1,000 office workers, HR managers and office managers, also shows that a third of staff suffering from RSI did not associate this with anything work-related, and did not report the problem to their management. At the same time, 76 per cent of HR managers were not aware of the risks of RSI.

"Companies should be taking a holistic approach.The equipment does not cost a fortune," said John Allen, RoSPA

Chartered physiotherapist and ergonomic consultant Bronwyn Clifford said: "People are becoming more aware of RSI and more people are reporting it. But, as more people are working on the move, they are working in awkward positions.

"It is important to do a risk assessment in the workplace, but not many companies are reactive. In SMBs, there is little awareness of the problem, although larger organisations are much more proactive."

Lack of awareness

The scale of the problem and poor awareness levels are raising concerns, particularly as employees are increasingly working off-site in uncontrolled work environments.

Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) managing consultant John Allen said: "We are shocked that this research indicates that the number of office injuries is on the increase due to companies not taking the right actions and investing in their staff's wellbeing. This issue needs to be addressed and companies should start assessing the risks and investing in ergonomic solutions where they are needed."

Holistic approach

What you need to know:

Repetitive Strain Injury, commonly known as RSI, is the umbrella term for a number of upper limb disorders.
There are a range of factors which can lead to the onset of RSI. According to WorkSmart, the most recognised causes of RSI are:

Repeating the same sequence of movements many times an hour or day

Static posture, sitting in the same position for hours on end

Having to work very fast, under pressure

Lack of control over the order of tasks or working methods

Working in awkward or tiring positions

"There is a perception that it is going to cost a lot of money but companies should be taking a holistic approach.The equipment does not cost a fortune," said Allen. "People should be taking regular breaks; the rotation of work will pay huge dividends as it keeps people well."

As more employees  work from home or off-site, employers are facing a new challenge. Allen said: "The increase in homeworking is reducing the need for office space, but homeworkers are still the employers' responsibility. RoSPA has been involved in assessing homeworking environments, but not very often. Home workers can carry out their own assessments at home and employers should respond to that.

"With employers, there is an element of ‘out of sight, out of mind'. This does not mean that employers can ignore the needs of home workers."

RSI points of pain

The problem with RSI is that it creeps up on people. Clifford said: "The important thing to note about RSI is that it is cumulative damage and it builds up over time. Small, repetitive finger movements are a real problem."

The increasing use of handheld computers, smartphones and laptops is contributing to the rise in RSI cases. Clifford says that an adjustable chair and a desk at the right height are absolute essentials, but she stresses that companies should consider the overall technology package. Anyone using a laptop on a regular basis will know that simple changes like a laptop stand to raise the height of the screen, and a separate mouse and keyboard will reduce back and shoulder strain.

"We need to make people aware of the risks and how they can be prevented," said Microsoft product marketing manager  Sophie Barnave-Gaffney. "Clearly there is an enormous lack of understanding about the need for ergonomics within the work environment. This is why we are putting such a focus on ergonomic hardware, in particular mice and keyboards, to reduce the number of work related injuries.

"There are new trends coming through with mice and keyboards, and integrated stands like the Ergostation which you can adjust in four different positions with four USB sockets in the rear to connect any hardware."

Ergonomic hardware

According to GfK, the market for ergonomic keyboards has doubled in the past year. Prices for ergonomic keyboards start at £50, laptop stands from £40 and the latest Microsoft Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 from £50. 

Microsoft is keen to change attitudes to RSI and has launched an ergonomic campaign aimed at businesses to help them understand the risks. Carrying out a risk assessment in the office and considering the needs of mobile workers is a good starting point, avoiding long-term damage and costly sick days.

Awareness gap

• Lack of communication and education about ergonomics
• Although workers claim to know what ergonomics is, awareness is limited
• 20 per cent of workers do not know if their workplace has an ergonomic programme in place
• 25 per cent of workers tell management about their aches and pains suffered as a result of their physical working environment
• 33 per cent of workers sstill do not feel their company is doing enough about the health and safety of its employees
• The main reason is a lack of investment and old equipment
• People spend nearly six hours a day at their desk
• Most workers only have basic ergonomic solutions in place despite the increase in working hours and mobile working
• Limited knowledge about the cost of RSI to business

Contact file

www.microsoft.com/uk

www.rospa.org.uk