Is it a problem?

A number of surveys including the UK Governments own Labour Force Survey have revealed that musculoskeletal disorders, including Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), are now the largest category of work-related ill health.  The resulting costs for industry are enormous; millions of pounds is wasted in the areas of lost production because of reduction in efficiency, employers’ insurance, sickness absence and recruiting and retraining costs.

Health and Safety legislation places a clear obligation on employers to assess the risks from working with DSE and to implement measures to prevent or minimise those risks.

Every year thousands of workers suffer RSI as a result of their work.  Many become permanently disabled and are no longer able to perform simple everyday tasks.  Around 40% lose their jobs because they can no longer do the work they were employed to do (1). 

Public awareness of RSI has grown considerably over the last few years helped by some well-publicised legal cases together with initiatives run by the Health and Safety Executive.  RSI sufferers have won substantial settlements both in and out of court. 

This site describes your legal obligations relating to DSE, describes the problems associated with DSE work and provides details about the easyDSE assessment tool and how it can ensure both legal compliance and the welfare of your workforce. 

Minimising all risks from DSE use is an arduous task particularly where there are many users and differing workstations.  easyDSE has therefore developed a custom solution to enable you to fulfil your legal obligations and maximise the welfare and productivity of your workforce.  As with all good Health & Safety Management the easyDSE solution framework is based on the process of risk analysis and provision of information.

(1)RSI hazards handbook, London Hazards centre