Types of Repetitive Strain Injuries

How do factory workers develop RSI?

Factory workers, also known as production workers or process operatives, are particularly vulnerable to developing RSI. This is because of both the nature of the tasks they are asked to perform and the environment in which they work.

People who perform certain types of activities are prone to developing RSI. These activities include:

• Repeating the same motion over and again, overworking the same tissue groups
• Performing high-intensity activities for long periods without stopping
• Bad posture or adopting a dysfunctional working position

The curse of mass production

Before Henry Ford invented the assembly line in 1913, goods were manufactured one at a time. One worker building one product would use a variety of different tools and movements in the course of his or her working day. Today, many products are put together on an assembly line. Each individual carries out the same task over and over again as items are passed down from one worker to another.

Whether you are measuring raw materials to be fed by another worker into a production machine, fitting printed circuit boards into computers or applying a protective coating onto an object, you may be caught up in the same position, using the same hand movements over and over again. If you are sitting on a seat that places your work surface too high or low, you may have to adopt an unsafe posture just to complete your work, and these are precisely the actions that lead to RSI.

Other factors in the production setting that can contribute to RSI are cold temperatures and vibrating equipment. These conditions are common in manufacturing. Overtime is often offered to factory workers depending on workload and it is important to take regular breaks to prevent the onset of RSI.

Your employer has a responsibility to create a working environment that protects you from RSI and, if you are already affected, to prevent your condition from getting worse. In doing this, your employer should conduct a thorough assessment of your work station and ensure that you have enough breaks in your day to minimise your risk of developing this painful and debilitating condition.

What can I legally do about it?

If you or a loved one is working on a factory line and suffering with the symptoms of RSI, you might be entitled to make a claim for compensation. Visit our dedicated website – www.repetitive-straininjury.co.uk – for more information or call 0800 028 2060 for more information. Alternatively we can call you back at a time convenient for you here.