Occupational Overuse Syndrome
Quick Links
- What is Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS)?
- Factors that contribute to OOS
- Who is vulnerable
- Symptoms
- Responsibilities
- What to do before or if you have symptoms
- Further information
What is Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS)?
Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS) is also known as repetition strain injury (RSI). It is a collective term for a range of conditions characterised by discomfort or persistent pain in muscles, tendons and other soft tissues in the back, neck, shoulder, elbows, wrists, hands or fingers.
Other common terms are:
- Cumulative trauma disorder (CTD)
- Tenosynovitis
- Tendonitis
- Epicondylitis (tennis elbow/golfers elbow)
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Factors that can contribute to OOS
Poorly designed equipment or workstations
For example:
- equipment that requires awkward body postures to perform repetitive tasks, such as workbenches that are too high or too low
- badly designed tools that require excessive force or are inappropriate to the job
- poor workstation layout that requires bending, twisting or stretching to perform a single task
- chairs, desks or benches which are not suited to the workers height.
Repetitive movement
Repetitive movements are especially hazardous when they involve the same joints and muscle groups over and over and when the same motion is performed too often, too quickly and for too long. Work involving movement repeated over and over is very tiring because the worker cannot fully recover in the short periods of time between movements.
Awkward work postures and movements
Any body position can cause discomfort and fatigue if it is maintained for long periods of time. For example working for long periods in a standing position or at a workstation keying can cause general muscle fatigue, low back pain and stiffness in the neck and shoulders.
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Who is vulnerable?
OOS may affect workers in any occupation, depending on the type of work that is performed and the conditions under which the work is carried out. Duties which require fast repetitive movements, sustained postures and or repeated forceful movements have an OOS risk.
Examples of University occupational groups which may undertake sustained repetitive postures and/or manual handling activities include:
- Laboratory staff
- Workshop staff
- Library staff
- Facilities management staff
- Staff involved in fieldwork
Examples of occupational groups which may undertake sustained repetitive postures/actions include:
- Academic, research and administrative staff
- Information services staff, eg web page developers, systems developers
- Authors/Editors
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Symptoms
The following includes some of the commonly experienced symptoms which may indicate an OOS condition. Confirmation of an OOS condition should be obtained from an appropriate medical practitioner.
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For further information refer to Guide to Screen Based Equipment Discomfort or Tension
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Responsibilities
Manager/Supervisors, in consultation with employees, are responsible for the following:
- Ensuring ergonomic hazards relating to poor design of tools, equipment workstations or work practices are identified and the associated risk controlled.
- Ensuring that all employees have been provided with adequate equipment for the tasks undertaken.
- Ensuring that employees have received information, instruction or training provided in the use of equipment and work practices.
- Encouraging and reinforcing proper working techniques.
- Encouraging early reporting of any injury or symptoms.
Employees are responsible for the following:
- Ensuring thy understand information and instructions provided.
- Participating in training as provided.
- Correctly using equipment provided.
- Following proper working techniques.
- Co-operating in the early identification and reporting of hazards and/or injury symptoms.
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What to do before or if you have symptoms
The onset of occupational overuse symptoms can be gradual. to try and prevent this from becoming a chronic problem, it is important to act early if you are experiencing symptoms.
to reduce the risk of OOS or if you are experiencing symptoms you should:
- Advice your supervisor - with occupational overuse syndrome, early reporting is essential in order to identify and treat the condition while it is still reversible. There is a very clear connection with early reporting of symptoms. DO NOT IGNORE PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT
- Complete an Accident/Incident/Hazard & Near Miss Report
- Refer to the Setting up your Workstation Guide, complete a Workstation Self-Assessment Checklist. If after having carried out the self-assessment you have concern regarding your workstation or you are not comfortable carrying out the self-assessment then request for a formal workstation assessment by emailing Health and Safety.
- Ensure Workpace is installed on your computer and correctly configured for your personal benefit.
- Consult a medical professional.
Further Information
- National Code of Practice for the Prevention of Occupational Overuse Syndrome
- Guidance Note for the Prevention of Occupational Overuse Syndrome in Keyboard Employment
- RSI/OOS Association - a non-profit organisation based in the ACT dedicated to supporting people in Australia with RSI or OOS.