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You may have heard the term RSI before. RSI refers to any injury which affects the soft tissue in the body (muscles, tendons and nerves), specifically in the neck, upper and lower back, chest, shoulders, arms, wrists and hands.
RSI is commonly also referred to as occupational overuse syndrome. RSI typically first appears as an ache or persistent pain. But over time, RSI can progress to become a prolonged and chronic pain disorder that can prevent you from working or living your life to the fullest.
RSI is a common workplace injury, with most sufferers working in industrial and manual labour roles. Some of the industries most impacted by RSI include factory work, fishing, minding, hospitality, automotive, trucking and transport, retail, health care, packaging, building, and in professions where long hours at a desk are required.
Given that so many of us spend our work days at a computer these days, it’s not surprising that many sufferers of RSI are office-based.
If you are suffering from RSI due to a workplace injury then you may be entitled to compensation on a no win, no fee basis. Get free initial advice our your rights from our Brisbane personal injury lawyers.
Every employer has a health and safety responsibility to identify and reduce the risk of workplace injury and RSI in the workplace. If you have suffered an injury and believe you have not been provided a safe workplace in terms of avoiding RSI you may be eligible to make compensation claims for your loss.
When claiming for RSI you will be claiming under WorkCover which is a statutory insurance scheme designed to protect injured workers. We will cover how to claim in more detail later in this article.
We touched on some of the industries most likely to see workers injured after performing repetitive tasks - but what are the roles within those industries?
There are a range of factors which can impact on RSI or Occupational Overuse Syndrome. A poorly-designed workplace can create risk factors which mean you are more likely to suffer an injury. Common risk factors for RSI include:
Your employer has a duty of care to ensure that you have access to proper rests and breaks, and that you have sufficient time off between shifts. If you do not have adequate rest you may be at a higher risk of suffering injury.
If you have been injured as a result of improper working conditions then you may be eligible to make a claim for compensation from your employer in addition to any WorkCover claim.
Repetitive strain injuries are common injuries at work, and while the injuries can be distinct there are some common features for each type of injury.
If you are an employee who has suffered an injury at work and need to take time off work to heal, you can make a claim for WorkCover.
Some common RSI conditions include:
If you have any symptoms of pain that do not get better after a few days’ rest then you absolutely should see your doctor and think about your options moving forward. If you have been injured at work then it may be time to consider making a WorkCover claim.
When you are making a claim for RSI on WorkCover you may be eligible to claim for a range of treatments and therapies which can help you get back on track and into the workplace again. In some cases you may not be able to return to your previous duties - at least at first - and will be able to take on different duties.
When claiming for RSI you will be able to claim for any reasonable cost which has been incurred as a result of suffering the injury. If you have sustained medical costs, these can be claimed for, and you can also claim for any rehabilitative costs.
While there are certain things you can claim for it is best to seek legal advice and let a lawyer take you through the process of claiming through WorkCover. Any claim for compensation is not going to be paid by your employer - it is all done through insurance companies.
When claiming for a workplace injury you usually have three years in which to commence your claim. This is known as the statutory limitation period.
With RSI claims, this three year time period still applies, which means that any claim will ordinarily need to be commenced within three years of first encountering the workplace situation that caused your injury.
However, in some cases, an injury will take some years to cause enough pain that you will seek medical and legal help. In this case, there are some extension periods which can apply for this three year time period.
We recommend booking in for a complimentary consultation so that we can discuss your case with you. Making a claim for work compensation is different for everyone because every case has factors which are unique, but our lawyers will ensure that everything is easy to understand.
Call us today and book in for your obligation free consultation and ensure you get the legal advice that is right for you.