12.+Case+Study(RSI+Court+Case)

RSI Court Case
Between 2003 through 2004, about 4.7m work days were lost to RSI, with workers taking and average of 18 sick days leave. (19) A journalist received an out of court settlement after taking 6 months sick leave. The journalist Ms Munson, whom worked with an electronic keyboard, was diagnosed as suffering from RSI in 1991 and the condition was confirmed by the company doctor. The Portsmouth and Sunderland Newspapers agreed to pay Ms Munson £10,000 and £1,371 to cover the benefit she has received since the dismissal. Another RSI case is Rafiq Mughal whom worked for the Reuters news agency, and was the journalist involved in Thursday's High Court verdict after turning down a pounds 20,000 out-of-court settlement. (20) These RSI cases highlight the importance for companies to incorporate RSI into their health and safety practices, and corporate responsibility for companies to ensure employees use prevention methods to ensure RSI doesn’t develop in employees or face repercussions such as the court cases above.

**Affect of Delayed Carpal Tunnel Diagnosis**
During Joan’s professional career at AXZ Company, she noticed a pain in her hands, which she initially she ignored. A short while later the pain was radiating up to her elbow and she resorted to off the counter painkillers for the time being, which helped her for an interim. As time passed, the pain gradually started building up and spread to her elbow, neck and shoulder, which she again ignored and continued working, till it became unbearable and she had to approach her supervisor who suggested her to see a doctor. After an appointment with the doctor, she was advised that she may have tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome, due to the nature of the work she did which involved much typing – he tells her to file a workers’ compensation claim with her employer because her symptoms appear to be work related. The next day Joan tells her manager that she may have carpal tunnel syndrome based on the evaluation completed by her primary doctor. The manager reviews the paperwork from Joan’s primary doctor and completes the Notice of Injury. The manager contacts the workers’ compensation insurance carrier and reports the claim to them. Joan is told to make an appointment with the occupational clinic that treats the employees who work for AXZ //Joan has her first appointment at the walk-in clinic on January 23, 2008. The physician evaluates her and concurs with the primary doctor that Joan may have tendonitis or possible carpal tunnel syndrome. He prescribes a conservative treatment plan – brace for both wrist, physical therapy two times per week for 2 weeks and a prescription for anti-inflammatory medication. Joan is schedule for a follow up appointment in 3 weeks.// //Three weeks later Joan return to the walk-in clinic, she relays that she is feeling a little better but her hands are still a bit stiff. Her employer has reduced the amount of typing she has to do and they have reassigned the hole punching job to someone else. The doctor orders two more weeks of physical therapy and advises Joan to continue using her brace. She is schedule to return to the clinic in three weeks.// //Joan returns to the walk in clinic on March 11, 2008 – she tells the doctor that she is feeling much better, in fact she is almost back to normal. The doctor discontinues her therapy and advises her to wear the brace if she has any symptoms. She is discharged – Full Duty with a 0% permanent impairment rating.// //Joan returns to work – she is back to her regular job and she is back to making training manuals for her manager. Gradually her symptoms return, again Joan ignores the warning signs and continues to type and hole punch. Two months after her last appointment at the walk-in clinic, Joan is back with significant deterioration in both arms, tenderness and pain radiating from her shoulder to her wrist.// //Joan is immediately referred to an orthopedic hand specialist for an evaluation. The hand specialist orders a nerve conduction study and confirms that Joan has carpal tunnel and ulnar neuropathy. She is schedule for surgery.// //Yes, based on her original symptoms the nerve conduction study could have been order earlier to rule out the carpal tunnel syndrome or confirm her diagnosis.// //This employee reported an injury that is repetitive, reporting the claim to the insurance carrier is only half of the process. It is imperative that the employer evaluate the employees job tasks to determine the root cause of the employees problem.// //70% of all claims are related to productivity and workplace conditions. The Notice of Injury does not capture the daily routines that can be contributing to the employees symptoms.// //Carpal tunnel claims are 34% more likely to transition from medical only to lost time increasing the cost by 300%.” (21) //
 * //“Joan Enters the Workers’ Comp System://**
 * //Was there a delay in her diagnosis?//**
 * //What did the employer do wrong?//**