If you're reading this you probably think you have RSI caused by your working conditions and are thinking of suing your employer for an RSI compensation claim. Its's not an easy thing to prove in the courts but some people have received large payouts.

Do You Have a Valid RSI Compensation Claim?

To stand any chance of making a successful compensation claim against your employer, you need to consider the following 3 key points:

• You were exposed to a risk of RSI injury through work and your employer knew of this (or should have known)
• Your employer didn't take any reasonable steps to prevent the development of RSI through your work
• Your RSI was caused directly (although maybe not fully) by your work and the failure of your employer to try to minimise the risk

The problem is that there are many grey areas in proving these claim cases. Was your RSI injury caused by your work? Did your employer take all 'reasonable' steps to prevent it? What are 'reasonable' steps exactly?

But there are successful compensation claims, many of which are settled before the courts so if you believe that your RSI was caused by your employers failure to take reasonable precautions then it may be worth pursuing.

How Much RSI Compensation Could I Get?

The amounts awarded will vary considerably based on the extent of the injury and the degree the employer is held responsible. e.g.

• Inland revenue typists awarded approx £80,000
• Council chainsaw worker awarded £60,000
• Checkout Operators awarded over £30,000

Should I Claim For Compensation ?

Well its entirely up to you! Legal action can be draining and exhausting but the rewards may well be worth it. Whether it compensates for the pain and suffering RSI causes is debatable so obviously it is better to prevent the problem occuring in the first place

Your employer has a number of responsibilities regarding RSI at work as it is their fundamental responsibility to keep you safe and assess any risks that you may be subject to.

RSI Risk Assessment

It is your employer's responsibility to keep you safe at work!. This includes assessing any risks you may face and taking the appropriate remedial action. This includes obvious cases (e.g. checking that industrial machines have the correct safeguards fitted) but also the more seemingly innocuous risks such as keyboard and mouse use while using a computer.

Employers must (or should!):

• Identify the risk
• Assess the risk
• Take steps to prevent or control the risk
• Modify the work tasks to the individual concerned
• Check the steps taken are working
• Review the assessment

Eye Test

OK so the link between your eyesight and RSI may not be clear (if you'll excuse the pun!) but if you are struggling to see the computer screen clearly then you may be hunching up closer to the monitor than is comfortable. This may be one small piece of the the jigsaw but you never know what may be the root cause of your RSI.

If you are a regular computer user your employer should pay for a free eye test every 2 years

Compensation For RSI Injury at Work

Of course, it is possible that your employer has taken all possible steps and your RSI continues to deteriorate but if your employer hasn't listened or taken the required steps you may have a case for claiming compensation.