Prevent repetitive strain injury at work

The only way to fully remove the risk of repetitive strain injury (RSI) is to avoid using processes or equipment that might pose a risk. On a practical level, you may not be able to mechanise high-risk tasks or protect employees from exposure to risk altogether. 

You can use your health and safety risk assessment to identify high-risk tasks and reduce their impact on your employees.

Download a tool to help you assess and deal with the risk of RSI (PDF, 1.46MB)

Make changes to reduce the risk of RSI

Changes do not necessarily need to be expensive. Simple and low-cost changes can often be effective. You can:

• break up periods of intensive or high-risk work - this reduces the chances of RSI developing
• arrange workstations and equipment to suit the workers using them, eg left-handed or very tall people may need different settings
• tackle the serious risks or those that affect a large number of workers first
• reduce the size or weight of things being handled, and/or the distances they're moved
• share high-risk tasks between a number of employees
• make sure your workplace is well lit - RSI can result from people adopting unusual positions to make the most of dim light or to avoid glare
• test any changes on one or two workers before making changes for everyone

In areas such as lighting, it's important that you comply with basic workplace standards. See workplace welfare facilities and healthy working environment.

Equipment to reduce the risk of RSI

You might be able to find alternative equipment for your employees to use. For example:

• more advanced power tools that cause lower levels of vibration may be available
• a properly adjusted chair and a well-positioned screen, keyboard and mouse will reduce the risk of RSI for computer users
• the use of well-designed workstations and equipment such as conveyors can make handling objects easier during manufacture, packing or loading

Equipment should be used along with appropriate breaks, information and training to reduce the risk. 

Training

Whether you keep all your existing equipment and processes or introduce some new ones, training is crucial to minimising the risk of RSI. See train staff to avoid repetitive strain injury.