RSI discussion

[Yossarian]

Just wanted to get some opinions on RSI, things like exactly how many of us are suffering at MDEC,
what are management up to on each shift with the way people are treated, what allowances are being made
by management for anyone suffering, things like that. I would also be interested if anyone knows exactly what
allowances SHOULD be being made for people.

[DGP1]

Repetitive strain injury (RSI)

Repetitive strain injuries affect hundreds of thousands of workers every year in Britain.

RSI covers a wide range of injuries to muscles, tendons and nerves. Usually hands, wrists, elbows or shoulders are affected. Knees and feet can also suffer, especially if a job involves a lot of kneeling or operating foot pedals on equipment.

The more common workplace strain injuries are sometimes called Work Related Upper Limb Disorders or WRULDS. This can lead to permanent disabilities, so must be stopped at an early stage.

There are many different names for these conditions, including: Tenosynovitis; carpall tunnel syndrome; tendinitis; dupuytren’s contracture; epicondylitis or ‘tennis or golf elbow’; Bursitis; ‘Housemaid’s knee’ or ‘beat conditions’, and overuse injury.
To prevent strains, however, requires an acknowledgement that workers are not there to provide the flexibility in the system, through contorting and stressing their bodies and brains to cope with poorly designed equipment or systems of work, or through increasing their work rate to accommodate production demands, or because the workforce is too stretched, too cowed or too insecure to complain.


http://www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/index.cfm?mins=397

[baldrick]

Don't know how they deal with it these days, but about 20 years ago I used to work on the coding desks. Started getting pain in my shoulders and neck. I saw my GP who as it happened took an interest in work related injuries. He asked me about the position we worked in, how long we worked on the coding (it was up to 2 hours at a time in those days), and what we did in between coding. I told him what we did and showed him a picture of the coding desk. He said we shouldn't be working for such long periods on it, and asked if I minded if he wrote to my employer to tell them that. Of course I had no objection.
A couple of weeks later I was called up to see the Office Nurse (we had one then). She told me that a letter had been recieved from my GP stating that we should not be working on the coding desks for such long periods. She went on to say that my doctor didn't know anything about the working conditions, and that she had seen how we worked, and didn't think there was anything wrong. She also said she had half a dozen letters from GPs saying their patients shouldn't be working on the coding desks, and if she agreed to them coming off they would be short of coders. She said one was suffering from hypertension. She didn't see why he couldn't continue working on the coding desks with medication!
By this time I had realised she was a management stooge, (she later told a chap who went to see her complaining of chest pains that he had indigestion and should get back to work - he collapsed with a heart attack 30 minutes later) and that she was just there to get me back to work. She went on to say that if I persisted in pursuing this I would have to see the RM Doctor, and if he thought I couldn't continue on the coding desk, it would mean that I was not fit to perform a full range of duties and could be dismissed!
I said that I would see the RM Doctor. Immediately afterwards I went to see the Union Rep who told me she was out of order, and that I could make a complaint against her. As I was relatively new and inexperienced I didn't. Anyway when I saw the RM Doctor he was OK (one of the old school). He said he didn't know why I had been referred to him, that my doctor knew me better than he did, and that he wouldn't over rule my doctor. I was subsequently taken off the code sort.
What happens in MDECs if you are unable to code?

[Yossarian]

Most of the RSI cases at MDEC are caused by ROI (if you're not familiar ROI is the little box we draw around the address with the mouse!) it can be caused by us having to repeatedly press the F8 key, but usually the mouse work. Anyway we have heard that some people on late shift have been told they don't have to do ROI's and if this is true then it would be nice to get some consistency across all shifts!!!!!!!!!!! As if!! but it would be nice to try.

[polly]

Most of the RSI cases at MDEC are caused by ROI (if you're not familiar ROI is the little box we draw around the address with the mouse!) it can be caused by us having to repeatedly press the F8 key, but usually the mouse work. Anyway we have heard that some people on late shift have been told they don't have to do ROI's and if this is true then it would be nice to get some consistency across all shifts!!!!!!!!!!! As if!! but it would be nice to try.

Definately not true! No one on the Late Shift is exempt from the ROI's. Anyone who thinks they may have RSI should ask for a VDU assessment from their WGM and make sure that any problems are highlighted.
It is the EHS who decide what is the best way forward with a person who is suffering from any RSI related problem. A workplace assessment by someone from the EHS may be organised to ensure the person is sitting correctly, and although it is not always the case, it can be just down to the way the person is sitting.

[dellman]

Hi Yossarian,
I am from Stockport MDEC but have been keying (or code sorting as it used to be called) for 20 years....polly is correct about the use of work place assesments with the EHS...and possibly the posture...but what doesn't help is keyers having to chase large keystroke figures...to earn bonus...the following quote from disgruntledpostie1 is very true......To prevent strains, however, requires an acknowledgement that workers are not there to provide the flexibility in the system, through contorting and stressing their bodies and brains to cope with poorly designed equipment or systems of work, or through increasing their work rate to accommodate production demands, or because the workforce is too stretched, too cowed or too insecure to complain. ......Luckily I have never suffered from any form of RSI...this has probably been due to the keying method I was taught....fingers almost crawling across the keys...soft touch...low keystrokes...high TPH...saying that...this system is the worst I have ever had to use...

[dvbuk55]

I know this is not MDEC related but it is RSI related - one of our posties is left handed and was also a day off cover and because he had to repeatedly throw off on right handed frames developed RSI - you may not realise how much of a difference it makes, but he managed to go through the procedure and was eventually sorted out.

[Vim_Fuego]

I've been at the MDEC for nearly six years now, and have never had so much as a twinge. This I put down to the fact that I slouch like the total slob I am and key with my arms and wrists flat on the desk, against all recommendations.

For some reason, keying in the "recommended" position (bolt upright, arms hovering over the desk, fingers poised over the keyboard like a concert pianist, etc) is really painful... so don't do it, kids!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Most of the RSI cases at MDEC are caused by ROI (if you're not familiar ROI is the little box we draw around the address with the mouse!) it can be caused by us having to repeatedly press the F8 key, but usually the mouse work. Anyway we have heard that some people on late shift have been told they don't have to do ROI's and if this is true then it would be nice to get some consistency across all shifts!!!!!!!!!!! As if!! but it would be nice to try.

Mouse work Cant they do Hot Keying at MDEC or is it just RM wont resource the software needed for it.

AFAIR from when I was a keyer at a Mail Order Company - mouse work is very slow even for fully trained and hard-working staff when compared to hot keying.

[evilc]

Most of the RSI cases at MDEC are caused by ROI (if you're not familiar ROI is the little box we draw around the address with the mouse!) it can be caused by us having to repeatedly press the F8 key, but usually the mouse work. Anyway we have heard that some people on late shift have been told they don't have to do ROI's and if this is true then it would be nice to get some consistency across all shifts!!!!!!!!!!! As if!! but it would be nice to try.

Mouse work Cant they do Hot Keying at MDEC or is it just RM wont resource the software needed for it.

AFAIR from when I was a keyer at a Mail Order Company - mouse work is very slow even for fully trained and hard-working staff when compared to hot keying.

Not sure if hot keying will work as roi boxes has be drawn as tight to the address as poss so that the system has more chance of reading the address.

[de-coded]

I had dequervains tenosynovitis a form of RSI, directly related to working at the MDEC.

Some may know I eventually had to take Ill Health Retirement and have an operation on each of my wrists to solve the problems from the MDEC.

[dellman]

I had dequervains tenosynovitis a form of RSI, directly related to working at the MDEC.

Some may know I eventually had to take Ill Health Retirement and have an operation on each of my wrists to solve the problems from the MDEC.

Hi de-coded, Sorry to hear you had to take ill health retirement...due to this horrible sounding form of RSI...and that you had to undergo an operation on each of your wrists. I have on many occasions challenged management on the possiblilties of RSI.......would you be prepared to give me some more details on your RSI ?....you can P.M me for privacy if you like....will fully understand if you don't want to...

Thanks and regards