Minimising Risks
Workplace health & safety
Health and Safety Regulations require employers to provide information on the risks and how to avoid them, instruction and training on how to use equipment or carry out tasks safely and supervision to check how the work is being carried out. They must ensure that equipment is being used in accordance with the manufacturer's or employer's instructions as well as carry out Risk Assessments.
Risk Assessments are a formal (written record) system of identifying hazards and the related risks (e.g. high, medium or low), and should result in an action plan identifying what will be done to eliminate or minimise the risks. It is considered good practice to develop a Safe System of Work, a list of procedures on how to carry out the work, and use equipment safely etc. All this information should normally be shared with the workers concerned. Risk assessments should be reviewed at least annually, or sooner if the risks are high, or when there is a change in work practices, processes, equipment, or people.
Risk Assessments must be suitable and sufficient (i.e. identify significant risks, whilst ignoring those that are insignificant), and it is not normally acceptable for a manager to do a verbal Risk Assessment. Some risks may be those that are present in everyday life, e.g. crossing the road, but if an additional work task is involved e.g. carrying heavy or bulky items then an additional level of Risk Assessment may be required.
Ways of reducing risk may include, for example, reducing the amount of time an employee spends doing the task or providing better equipment, designed to reduce the risk.
Note that in cases where the cost or difficulty of providing solutions to minimise or eliminate risks would be impracticable, the employer can decide not to anything more than, for example train and inform employees, or provide hazard warning notices, but this is not an acceptable way of getting round their responsibilities with regards to RSI in the workplace.
Upper Limb Disorders: Assessing The Risks (External link)
Minimising Risks
General Lifestyle
Ergonomics
Alternative Technology
Workplace Health & Safety
What can you do
General
Reporting Hazards
Stress Management
Workplace Assessements
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What can your employer do
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Work Culture
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The Individual
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Code of Practice
What is RSI - Conditions & RSI - Treatment & Managing RSI - Advice & Research - RSI Hazards