Mobile working propels RSI to "record high"

 

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By Barry Collins

Posted on 4 Jun 2008 at 12:37

New Microsoft-sponsored research claims work-related RSI is at a record high, not least because of the increase in mobile working.

The study claims almost seven out of 10 office workers have suffered from back, wrist, hand or shoulder pain.

Nearly three out of 10 have noticed an increase in aches and pains since they started mobile working, with ultraportable laptops fingered as a particular cause for concern.

"Laptops were never designed to do a lot of typing on," claims John Allen, managing consultant at The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). "They're smaller and tend to lead to more cramped [working] positions."

Allen says employers should be providing external keyboards and monitors for staff who are spending a lot of time working on laptops from home.

He also encourages employers to conduct safety checks on employees' home offices, although admits that it can be troublesome. "There's a lot of employers who don't feel comfortable about doing that," he says. "Many let employees identify the faults."

Microsoft does of course have a vested interest in this market, with the company offering its own range of ergonomically-friendly keyboards and mice. Allen admits it's difficult for companies to work out which equipment is ergonomically-friendly or not, but says choosing the right equipment can make a "big difference". "The first step is always to carry out an [employee] assessment," he says. "It's very often possible to get a piece of equipment on trial."