February 28th - RSI Awareness Day Work shouldn’t hurt, but for thousands of Canadians, it does. In fact, according to a recent Statistics Canada study, approximately 2.3 million Canadian adults have experienced a repetitive strain injury (RSI) at home or at work that was serious enough to limit their normal activities.
To bring attention to these injuries suffered by thousands of Canadians each and every year, Sunday, February 28th is RSI Awareness Day.
RSI is an umbrella term to describe injuries to soft tissues of the neck, upper and lower back, shoulders, wrists and arms. Tendonitis, tenosynovitis and carpal tunnel syndrome are some common examples of RSI. Common symptoms include aches, pains, tingling, swelling and loss of joint movement and strength in the affected area(s). These symptoms can progress into crippling disorders preventing those affected from working or leading normal lives. A variety of workplace factors can play a role in the development of RSIs including: repetition, work pace, work organization, awkward or fixed positions, forceful movements, vibration, cold temperatures, contact stress, pyschosocial stress, and insufficient recovery time.
Injured workers can suffer work restrictions, permanent disabilities and loss in earning power and quality of life, while RSI results in higher insurance rates, increased worker sick time and production problems for employers.
If you are experiencing symptoms or are at risk of developing a RSI, you should report problems to your supervisor, and your health and safety representative.