RSI in the workplace AbilityNet webinar 11 March 2015

Find these slides at www.slideshare.net/abilitynet More info: www.abilitynet.org.uk/webinars

Dealing with RSI in the

Workplace

AbilityNet Webinar

11 March 2015


Dealing with RSI in the workplace

RSI and Work-Related Upper

Limb Disorders

What causes them

What is the impact?

What adjustments can help?

Working with what you’ve got

Other specialist options

Top tips

Mobile working

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Welcome

Sarah Irving

AbilityNet

Mark Walker

AbilityNet

Robin Christopherson

AbilityNet


Helping disabled people

• At Home

• At Work

• In Education

• On the Web

My Computer My Way

Tech4Good Awards

AbilityNet

Adapting Technology. Changing Lives.


About Repetitive Strain Injuries

8.3m working days lost due to Musculo-Skeletal Disorders 2013/14

Est 15.9 days absence from work for each person - HSE

15-25% of computer users throughout the world may have experienced

RSI - BBC

3 out of 5 office workers in the UK have symptoms of RSI - HSE

Every day 6 people in UK leave their jobs due to an RSI –TUC

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HSE facts about disability

www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/musculoskeletal/index.htm

http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/musculoskeletal/index.htm

http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/musculoskeletal/index.htm


About Repetitive Strain Injuries

Also known as

• Upper Limb Disorders

• Work-Related Upper Limb Disorders

• Cumulative Trauma Disorder

Overuse injuries, but not just about repetition

Upper limb, neck and shoulders

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Recognising the symptoms

Prevention better than cure

• Tingling

• Numbness

• Pins and needles

• Aches + pain

• Shoulders, wrist, neck,

elbows

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Common conditions

Hand / Wrist Disorders

• Tendonitis

• Tenosynovitis

• Carpel tunnel syndrome

• De Quervain’s disease

• Trigger finger

• Ganglionic cysts

• Vibration syndrome

Upper Limb – Shoulder / Arm

• Bursitis

• Tendonitis

• Rotator Cuff Tendonitis

• Epicondylitis

• Thoracic Outlet Syndrome


Median Nerve

Radial Nerves

Carpal Bones

Ulnar Nerve

Carpal Ligament

Wrist Anatomy


Impact of RSIs

Personal issues

Productivity at work

Legal risks and responsibilities

• Duty of care

• Not specifically about disabled people

• Could be linked to Equalities Act

• Reasonable adjustments

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Dealing with RSIs

Traditional setup is often a problem

• Keyboards with number pad

• Mouse – wired/ball

• Corner/curved desks

• Chair and seating position

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An example bad workstation.....

Cacti grow well in hot dry environments

Incorrect positioning of desk lamp

Feet not firmly on the floor

Cushion pressing into underside of thigh

Back not supported by the backrest

Keyboard at an angle increasing angle at wrist

Neck twisted to look at monitor

Monitor not positioned head on

Using mouse too far away causing strain on shoulder


Dealing with RSIs

Work with you’ve got

Specialist equipment

Other changes

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Working with what you’ve got

• Hold the mouse correctly

• Sit at the correct height

• Don’t reach to the mouse – as close as you can

• Have your screen at the right height

• Keyboard close enough

• Curved desk – sit central to the curve

• Learning keyboard shortcuts

• My Computer My Way

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Mice

Wireless mouse

Vertical mouse

Bar mouse

Trackball mouse

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Keyboards

Compact keyboard and keypad

Split keyboard

Natural keyboard

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Other equipment

Palm support

Document holder

Wrist support

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Other changes that can help

Micro-breaks

Work pattern and job rotation

Learning touch typing

Speech to text

• Dictation

• Controlling the computer

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Laptops, mobiles, tablets

Always try to use

• Raiser

• Separate screen

• Keyboard

• Mouse

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An example good workstation…..

Monitor approximately at eye height and an arms length awayHead up

Feet firmly on a footrestOnly moderate

pressure at the front of the seat cushion

Eyes looking forward to most of the time

Back erect and supported

Shoulders relaxed

Hands in line with the forearms

Reference material is easy to look at


What employers can do

• Task variation + task rotation – esp data input

• Allow breaks

• Temperature of workspace

• Don’t issue full keyboard unless they definitely need it

• Take it seriously - prevention is better than cure

• Training for employees and line managers

• Eg disability awareness training for line managers

• Maintain the information that you offer staff

• Monitor sickness rates that relate to RSI

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Summary: Dealing with RSI

• One size doesn’t fit all

• Try different options

• Try different brands

• Take micro-breaks

• Move around during the day

• Get an assessment

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Contact Us

Questions, assessments, training

[email protected]

+44 (0)1926 465 247 @abilitynet

Next AbilityNet Webinars

• Accessible Apps: Barclays Mobile Banking, 1pm, 19 March 2015

• Controlling your computer with your voice, 1pm, 14 April 2015

Sign up at www.abilitynet.org.uk/webinars

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Government & Nonprofit

RSI in the workplace AbilityNet webinar 11 March 2015