OHS practices - Hazards
Overuse
Overuse injuries is a term for a number of conditions. Overuse injuries are often grouped together under the name RSI (Repetitive Strain Injuries) because the term is popularly recognised in this country.
Put simply, overuse injuries can result if tendons, which connect muscles to bones, become inflamed when movement is:
- repetitive
- forceful
- jarring
- vibrating
- pinching; and/or twisting
Overuse injuries can make it impossible to carry out tasks in and outside work. Simple activities like doing up buttons or making a bed may be painful or simply not possible. It affects your personal, social and financial life as well as work.
Stress, poor lighting and other forms of poor work organisation exacerbate this problem.
The following table lists possible causes and prevention methods of overuse hazards.
Cause |
Prevention |
|
|---|---|---|
1. |
Poor job design |
|
Working with machines rather than people. |
Job redesign. |
|
Lack of rest periods. |
Adequate programmed rest periods and exercise breaks. |
|
Lack of job rotation. |
Variety of tasks. |
|
High-speed production or movement. |
Self-paced work. |
|
Bonus and overtime. |
Setting reasonable workloads which are not tied to any system of incentives. |
|
Work overload at busy times. |
Sufficient staff at all times. |
|
Lack of training. |
Adequate pre-service and in-service training, especially for new equipment. |
|
2. |
Poor equipment design |
|
Desks, chairs which encourage strained posture. |
Adjustable equipment and furniture. Provision of foot, wrist and palm rests and document holders. Self-paced work. |
|
Machine monitoring of output. |
||
3. |
Poor workplace design |
|
Inadequate lighting. |
Provisions of a safe workplace as noise, fatigue and stress appear to contribute to overuse injury. |
|
High noise level. |
||
Poor temperature control. |
||
VDU screens that reflect light. |
Relocation of screen, fitting of diffusers to lights, anti-glare mesh on screen, provide access to windows for eye relief. |
|
4. |
Increase in workload |
|
Beginning a new job or returning from extended leave. |
Build up workload gradually. Warm-up exercises. Workplace negotiation when workload is increased. |
|
What to do if you notice signs of overuse injury
- Respect pain and tiredness; never work beyond the point of pain.
- Seek medical advice promptly. Total cure depends on the time of treatment.
- Report injuries as soon as possible.
- There is a greatly increased risk of contracting overuse injury when working more than half a normal shift at a repetitive task.
