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C O N T E N T S

1. INTRODUCTION
   Hidden harm from overuse - the misery of RSI
   About this handbook
   
2. THE PRINCIPLE OF RISK ASSESSMENT
   Health and safety law
   The principle of risk assessment
   Key requirements of remaining six-pack regulations Manual Handling Operations Regulations
   Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations
   Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations
   Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations
   Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations
3. IDENTIFYING THE HAZARD - WHAT IS RSI AND WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
   What is RSI?
   Table 1: Localised RSI Conditions
   
4. ASSESSING THE RISKS - WHY DOES RSI OCCUR AND WHO IS AT RISK?
   Assessing the Risks
   Why does RSI occur?
   Repetitive work
   Forceful movements
   Static or awkward postures
   Gripping and twisting
   Poor work organisation
   Stress
   Cold
   Vibration
   Table 2: jobs with risk of RSI
   Assessing whether there is a risk of RSI in the workplace
   Assessing whether there are symptoms of RSI amongst the workforce
5. PREVENTING RSI - WHAT EMPLOYERS MUST DO
   Preventing RSI - What Employers Must Do
   The Reality of Work
   Improving work organisation
   Improving task and equipment design
   Taking account of the individual
   Improving the work environment
   Monitoring health
   Good practice - what employers have done
   Display screen equipment - preventive measures
   Preventing RSI in VDU work Work organisation
   Workstation
   Work equipment - screen, keyboard, mouse
   The individual
6. ORGANISING TO PREVENT RSI IN THE WORKPLACE - WHAT WORKERS CAN DO
   The need for trade union action
   Trade union safety representatives
   What safety representatives can do
   Inform yourself
   Carry out your own survey
   Take up any problems with management
   Organising: two successes
   Sample questionnaire for repetitive strain injury
   Make sure that you are consulted
   Negotiate a policy
   TUC model policy
   If a member comes to you with symptoms
   If there is no union
   RSI campaigns
7. DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF RSI
   Diagnosis and Treatment of RSI
   Diagnosis
   Treatment
   Rest
   Immobilisation
   Physiotherapy
   Holistic approaches
   Drugs or surgery
   Complementary therapies
   Prevention rather than cure
8. IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE RSI
   If You Think You Have RSI
   At work
   At the doctor’s
   At the DSS
   At home
9. COMPENSATION
   Compensation
   Suing your employer
   Damages
   Case law
   No fault compensation schemes Summary of compensation agreement on keyboard and workstation- related upper limb disorders between Inland Revenue and PTC
   Negotiating a compensation agreement
   Suing for unfair dismissal
   Seeking state compensation
   Industrial Injuries Benefit Table 3: Prescribed Diseases And Related Occupations
   Clawback
   Other benefits
   Prevention not compensation
10. CAMPAIGNING PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE