Health and Safety for Beginners Forums

Just back from the Doc, been diagnosed with RSI, courtesy of my job...

I really want to curl up and cry, I'm so hacked off. Got a sleeping pill, so hopefully I'll get a decent night's kip for the first time in weeks.

Dreading going to work tomorrow and breaking the news. They'll try and blame me for it

Anyone got any brandy?

Lizzie

Hiya Lizzie,

Sorry to hear your news. I gather from your post that you live in a blame culture. Been there, still got the bruises.

I wouldn't go for the brandy and sleeping tablet though - if you've got my luck you'll end up falling down the stairs and hurting your good side.

Take care

Sorry to hear your diagnosis Lizzie.

See my e-mail to you.

Thanks, Lisa and Alexis

I've calmed down a little bit now, just worried about the future. Might get dismissed for health reasons they work you like a dog, then throw you on the scrap heap!!!

And yes, Lisa, they did try to blame me. But if you think that's bad, they tried to discipline someone for trapping, and breaking, his fingers!!!

I'm soooooo out of there!!!

Hey Lizzie o boo

Have you reported your diagnosis of RSI on an Accident Form?
Has this been reported as a RIDDOR injury to HSE?

If you are a member of a Trade Union, contact your local rep as several unions have RSI casework guidance precisely to deal with this sort of problem and ensure that your injury is not exacerbated whilst hopefully preserving your employement

You may also wish to consider registering the diagnosis with the Department of Work & Pensions as an Industrial Injury as this will ensure you receive relevant benefits even if you need them years after the original diagnosis - you have to register within a time limit of (offhand) 3 years, so there is no tearing great hurry with this, but it is better to do it sooner rather than later to ensure you get what you are entitled to if you need it later on

http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Cus ... 3.xml.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What is Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit?
This is extra money if you are ill or disabled from an accident or disease caused by work.

Can I get Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit?
Accidents
We use accident to mean an incident or series of incidents at work which were not deliberate and which resulted in personal injury. You can apply at any time for a decision from us on whether your accident was an industrial accident. This is not a claim for benefit. But it may be of help if you decide to claim benefit in the future because of your accident.

I do hope your employers will stop feeling Paranoid and treat your diagnosis as an Opportunity to review their Risk Assessments, Processes and Policies to try and eliminate (AFAIRP) this for other employees.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/index.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Have you been referred to a specialist in Musculo-Skeletal Disorders (MSDs)? Does your employer have any policy for Rehabilitation? What advice have you received to mitigate the effect of the type of work you do?

As a minimum I would hope your employer would be following guidance available here, including Workplace Adjustment:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/sicknessabsence/index.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If your RSI has been caused or is exacerbated by DSE working, have your employer put in place the process for a New DSE Risk Assessment?
Does your Employer have Occupational Health Services (either within the company or "bought in" as required)?

If the problem is DSE related, there are many wonderful gadgets and devices (and some wonderful software as well) which can alleviate or stop any further RSI - but these need to be evaluated by yourself and a Competent Risk Assessor to ensure you get the best options for you personally

Access to Work may be able to assist with advice/funding to enable you to keep your current position -
http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Cus ... 5.xml.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You may find this website of use:
http://www.rsi.org.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sorry about the length , a small synopsis of Wot I Kno

Hope you have (had) a good weekend and hope this helps (a bit)

By all means PM me if you want some more info or if you have a specific query - happy to help

There you go Lizzie, wonderunionalmanac Helen has steered you right.

Helen, thank you so much!!!!! I'm going to get a look at those links after my tea. I wasn't sure the Union could really do anything for me, but i'll be giving them a buzz tomorrow!!!!

Thanks again , Helen

You're a star!!!

Now that I've digested my pizza...

My employers aren't being totally supportive in this matter. As far as I'm aware, nothing has been reported, either on our accident system or on a RIDDOR. OH and my line manager seem to think either I or my GP are making this up. My hand started acting up about 2 years ago after an accident (which I subsequently found out was never recorded - which, naturally, is my fault. Even though i reported it to the Duty Manager at the time ).

All I've been told is that if there isn't another suitable job for me in the company, then I'll be dismissed under the Capability Policy (I'm not a DSE user, it's tilling and stacking shelves which have done me in). However, one of the managers has now ordered wrist supports for a computer workstation we have to stand up at and use. Management don't tend to take certain issues seriously in here. And now it's going to bite them on the bum!!!

I'm at the end of my tether to be honest. There's also so much else going on in there from a H&S and fire safety point of view, I'm getting quite ill with it all (headaches, vomiting, crying at the drop of a hat - like now! )

But I'm going to be fighting back now , and thanks to the info you gave me Helen, I'm feeling a bit braver and a bit better about what I need to do to protect myself.

Thanks again, chick!!!

Lizzie xxx

Lizzie

Definitely consult with your union rep

You might want to ask your union rep to request a visit from an Area/Regional/whatever (heavy gun) Union H&S Representative to do a TU Health & Safety Inspection (which will no doubt show up legitimate H&S concerns)
And to file the Inspection Report with Local and Senior Management

You sound stressed not surprised

Summary here may be of use (this firm do a lot of union-related work, there are others, of course):
http://www.thompsons.law.co.uk/ltext/wo ... sorder.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What should your employer do?
Your employer has a duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to prevent any cases of work-related ULDs from arising, or to do something to prevent existing cases from getting worse.

RSI/WRULD is definitely reportable under RIDDOR.
At point of diagnosis of Industrial Injury, the Accident Book (or Accident Form) should be completed, and a RIDDOR report filed.
You can complete the Accident Form yourself, keep copies, and record when you notified the Manager.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/guidance.htm#disease" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Reportable diseases include:
Certain poisonings;
Some skin diseases such as occupational dermatitis, skin cancer, chrome ulcer, oil folliculitis/acne;
Lung diseases including: occupational asthma, farmer's lung, pneumoconiosis, asbestosis, mesothelioma;
Infections such as: leptospirosis; hepatitis; tuberculosis; anthrax; legionellosis and tetanus;
Other conditions such as: occupational cancer; certain musculoskeletal disorders; decompression illness and hand-arm vibration syndrome.

The full list is here:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1995/Uksi_1 ... .htm#sdiv3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
For example:

8. Cramp of the hand or forearm due to repetitive movements.
Work involving prolonged periods of handwriting, typing or other repetitive movements of the fingers, hand or arm.
9. Subcutaneous cellulitis of the hand (beat hand).
Physically demanding work causing severe or prolonged friction or pressure on the hand.

I can only assume your Manager is medically qualified otherwise I can see no reasonable explanation for refusing to acknowledge your GP's diagnosis

And certainly no reason whatsoever for failing to complete Accident Report(s), reporting RIDDOR etc (or do they get a Bonus for an "Accident Free" workplace? hmmm )

You could also ask the TU rep to consider the negligence/failure to report previous Accident by your Manager 2 years ago as failure of duty of care, failure under FAW regs and failure under RIDDOR... particularly if you have (I hope) documentary evidence to back this up - including hospital admission (A&E?), doctor/physio appointments, sickness/absence reporting form(s) etc

It sounds like systemic failures in your Management Structures (for whatever reason) with regard to H&S. TU support could help improve this to benefit you and also help protect your colleagues.

You also deserve personal support from your TU to fend off Capability Procedures (appalling) grrrr

Wish you all the best, Take Care of Yourself, Good Luck and deffo

P.S.
If your manager does claim that they have filed a RIDDOR report, ask them for the RIDDOR reference number

You have three calendar years to register a compensation claim from the original injury.

They will be asked to produce items such as -

Accident report form,
Remedial work done to stop the situation happening again,
Training records for your work task,
Various risk assessments for your job role in general,
Manual handling assessment for this particular lifting task,
Instructions such as safe work instructions that are trained out to the staff as normal in all areas - date in 2006 of course!
Occ Health report,

And..... you will be able through your Union to hand back in the doctor's signed form stating that you have completed the industrial disease tests for RSI and it is a proven thing for them to defend against your appointed specialist's reference - this being your union's next point of call !

I've contested enough over the last 6 years to know how to push a genuine one forward - PM for more advice if needed.

Neglect to tell them that the hard drives on their pc server can also be used to trace the date of any post date records that suddenly appear on their system - just in case they try to be clever and "forge" some pre-dated material.

Hi Acko (and everyone else)

I had to have a few days off from all things H&S related, having a really rough time

I've had a look through the database (computerised accident report system) and there's been nothing about the original accident or my diagnosis. I've asked if it's been reported by OH, HR or anyone else for that matter, but I've been met with blank stares. To be honest, I'm so sick of this situation I'm tempted to let them have enough rope..... they've only got 3 days left to RIDDOR my diagnosis One piece of info for the TU to use against them!!

When I had the original accident we had no H&S in the store (he jacked it in as they wouldn't give him any time, and I only took over 3 months later). They haven't even done a risk assessment on me yet, even though I'm on restricted duties and in a lot of pain. There were no risk assessments done until a few months after we opened, and even then they weren't that great (coz I did them with zero training and zero knowledge - obviously I'm better now ) I get the feeling the H&S at the council would have a field day......

Been really hard to get through to my rep - we don't have a recognised union, so it's a nightmare getting a hold of the guy (not his fault, he's running around from pillar to post). I'm still trying though!!

And as if this wasn't enough to be getting on with, I wasn't registered for the September NEBOSH exams, so I now have to wait till December. I'm going off my head, as I was counting on getting my results in November so I could get the hell out of my work!! The thought of being there till February (if of course they haven't fired me before that) just depresses me no end .

Anyway, I'm off for a Girls Night In, with plenty of wine and chocolate to cheer me up!!

Thanks again, all!!