The TUC has called on employers to check whether they are doing enough to protect their employees from workplace hazards such as repetitive strain injury (RSI).
The call was timed to highlight the fact that today is International RSI day, which takes place every year on the last day of February.
The first RSI day was five years ago on 29th February, chosen because it is the only non-repetitive day in the year.
RSI, the symptoms of which include pain and immobility in the joints, nerves and muscles from the fingers to the neck, is an often-overlooked workplace hazard, but one for which employers are still responsible.
It is caused by repetitive movements and fatigue resulting from natural stresses and strains on the body. Factors such as inadequate computer set up or repetitive or monotonous work patterns are often to blame.
“This is an opportunity for all employers to look at their risk assessments to check if they adequately address the risk of RSI,” said TUC head of safety Hugh Robertson.
“If any of their workers have reported any problems that might be associated with RSI in the past then it is likely that even if they have done risk assessments, the measures introduced are either not sufficient, or not being used.”
