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International RSI Day 2007

What is RSI?

Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is an umbrella term for a number of overuse injuries affecting the soft tissues (muscles, tendons, and nerves) of the neck, upper and lower back, chest, shoulders, arms and hands. Typically arising as aches and pains, these injuries can progress to become crippling disorders that prevent sufferers from working or leading normal lives.

Why International RSI Awareness Day?

Repetitive strain injuries are a serious occupational health concern across the world. February 28, 2007 will mark the eighth annual International RSI Awareness Day.
 
RSI Day is an opportunity to promote injury prevention and raise awareness about the prevalence of RSIs and their effects. Workers forced to do monotonous, repetitive jobs, who work too long or too fast without enough breaks, are affected by RSIs. Poor work organization (unnecessary overtime, cutbacks and layoffs, substandard equipment, lack of worker control) contributes to RSIs. By using the principles of ergonomics (where work should suit you, rather than you suiting work), we can re-design tools, work stations, workplaces and work organisation to reduce the risk of workers getting hurt.
 
Held on the last day of February, it is the only "non-repetitive" day on the calendar and is officially observed on February 29th. Unions, workers support groups and others around the world mark International RSI Day each year.

Victoria

Statistics

In 2004 – 2005, there were 14,107 WorkCover claims for sprains and strains injuries. Total claims were 30,489. Payments for sprains and strains claims since 1985 have totalled $8.203 million. Payments for injuries to wrist and fingers in the same period have totalled $1,479million.
 
In Victoria, RSI Awareness Day highlights the need for:
  1. Improved manual handling regulations and
     
  2. More prosecutions to compel employers to implement controls to prevent workers suffering RSIs
WorkSafe has released ‘Proposed Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007’ for public comment. (declared July 2007)
 
Manual Handling is dealt with in the consolidated regulation as one of many OHS hazards and has specific duties relating to hazard identification, control of risk and review of risk control measures. What is missing is more detail on how the Section 28 duties of designers of buildings or structures in the OHS Act 2004 applies to ensure that hazardous manual handling tasks can be eliminated in workplace design and redesign. Studies have shown that design contributes significantly to serious work–related injury. The reduction of MSD risk by modifying equipment and processes after they have been introduced into a workplace is difficult and expensive. The most cost effective and efficient stage at which to control risk is the design stage.  For example, redesign of shelving in a workplace can eliminate repetitive movements, bending and stretching.
 
There have been very few prosecutions for breaches of manual handling laws since in the last two decades. According to WorkSafe, the last prosecution arising from a manual handling injury occurred over a year ago, in January 2006. While the company, Woolworths, was fined $100,000, there are thousands of workers being injured and WorkSafe is not prosecuting the employers responsible.

Australia

Whilst the VWA could do better for Victorian workers by prosecuting employers, an increasing number of Victorian workers are going to find themselves worse off. The Howard government has been approving the transfer of workers out of the state system into the commonwealth OHS and compensation system.
 
With a total of only 3 prosecutions (for anything) for the whole of Australia in 2005 – 2006, it is not likely that there will be any meaningful protection for workers offered by the federal government under the ‘Comcare’ system.
 
Over 340,000 workers will be covered by Comcare by mid March.
On February 28th take action by bringing hazards to the forefront to have RSI and all forms of muscular disease and injury recognized for the disabling condition that it is.

Actions

  • Do the Quiz that you can download at the bottom of the page. It’s easy to do and can be a great way to get some talk started on any parts of your work that are causing sprains and strains.
  • Comment on the Manual Handling Chapter in the Victorian Proposed Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007. Comment closes 28 February. More detail on how to comment can be found on this page.
  • Find out more about the changes to the Commonwealth OHS laws, and whether your employer may be eligible to apply to shift to this system.
  • Contact your union about the ‘Your Rights at Work’ campaign for more information (or check the ACTU website) about the federal government changes that may affect your OHS and compensation rights.
  • Elect an OHS Rep (and deputy) in your workplace, if you haven’t already got one or more. If it’s been a while since you negotiated DWGs and elected reps, check out whether the current arrangement still suits.
 

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