Upper Limb Disorders
The following article was posted on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) website and has a number of links to helpful publications that can be read or downloaded as PDF’s. The Article may be read in full at http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/msdprogramme.htm#uld
—-
HSE uses the term upper limb disorders (ULDs) instead of “repetitive strain injury” (RSI) because RSI does not cover all upper limb disorders.
It is estimated that 4.7 million working days (full-day equivalent) were lost in 2003/04 through musculoskeletal disorders mainly affecting the upper limbs or neck that were caused or made worse by work. On average, each person suffering took an estimated 18.3 days off in that 12 month period.
ULD is used as an umbrella term for a range of disorders of the hand, wrist, arm, shoulder and neck. It covers those conditions, with specific medical diagnoses (e.g. frozen shoulder, carpal tunnel syndrome), and other conditions (often called RSI) where there is pain without specific symptoms. Symptoms may include pain, swelling and difficulty moving. The worse cases can result in permanent disablement if no action is taken. ULD cases can also mean production losses and compensation claims for employers.
Further information on this can be found in Upper Limb Disorders in the Workplace (HSG60). This looks at the total management of ULDs from prevention through risk assessment to rehabilitation. Online versions of the Upper limb disorders risk filter[5] and Risk assessment worksheets from HSG60 are available here.
ULDs can be associated with working at a poorly designed workstation or PC. HSE have published a free leaflet on work with Visual Display Units (VDUS): Working with VDUs (INDG36). See below for further information on the Display Screen Equipment Regulations.
Aching arms (or RSI) in small businesses (INDG171(rev1)) is a free leaflet based on Upper limb disorders in the workplace (HSG60). It is designed to help employers and managers in small businesses to understand and tackle ULDs.
The from experience section of this website contains several case studies looking at how employers have successfully tackled ULDs in the workplace.
Copies of all HSE guidance and leaflets can be ordered from HSE Books and electronic versions can be downloaded from the HSE website.
The above article was posted on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) website and has a number of links to helpful publications that can be read or downloaded as PDF’s. The Article may be read in full at http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/msdprogramme.htm#uld
