Employers should be ensuring that they offer users the facility to find a comfortable working position by providing them with enough workspace and suitable furniture and equipment.

The Health & Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 Require employers to ensure that any regular DSE user has a suitable and sufficient assessment of their workstation carried out and that daily work routines are planned, encompassing adequate breaks or changes of activity to reduce their workload at that equipment.

To prevent other staff getting aches and pains you need to make sure that they adjust their chair and VDU equipipment to find a comfortable working position. Make sure that they use good keybooard and mouse techniques and do not work for excessive periods of time in the same position. Ensure that they take adequate breaks by carrying out other activiities away from the computer. Regular short or mini breaks are preferable to a few longer breaks. If possible breaks should be taken away from the screen.

You should encourage your staff to report any problems or symptoms at an early stage. As with any health issue the earlier it can be diagnosed and treated the more likely it is that the condition can be managed to the mutual benefit of the employer and employee.

Early management intervention and treatment of an individuals symptoms both physical and psychological can reduce the impact and the onset and duration of RSI. Thus avoiding these conditions causing permanent long term damage to the individuals health.