work compensation for chronic back pain

KiKi

ValAl wrote: »

To LilyDeTilly:
Thank you so much! That makes so much sense. No, they have never made any desk assessment nor they have ever asked me whether the position I work from is comfortable.
My concern now is, how to approach the head office, and what to write in the letter that I am planning to send them together with my doctor's letter.

ValAl

Sorry to hear about your pain. However, you appear to have missed SarEl's post above. She is an employment law specialist and knows her stuff. I would take heed of her comments before you go jumping in...


KiKi

Googlewhacker

ValAl wrote: »

I do not think that informally counts for nothing. I have been working with these people for 5 years.

You have a responsibility to your own Health and Safety as well as the employer and this includes reporting any faults with your work station. Basic Health and Safety

RedSoleShoes

ValAl wrote: »

No, they have never made any desk assessment.

Some people seem to be missing this point.

I'm not sure why Val is getting such a hard time about not realising the pain was related to her work. Back pain is a slow burner sometimes and it is not always obvious what caused the pain or injury.

I get the feeling that there is a lot more info that Val has, but she kept the post short and to the point rather than rambling on (as some posts do).

RSI is something that takes time to develop (hence the name - repetative!) so it is not unreasonable to assume that your job may cause it.

Googlewhacker

LilyDeTilly wrote: »

Some people seem to be missing this point.

I'm not sure why Val is getting such a hard time about not realising the pain was related to her work. Back pain is a slow burner sometimes and it is not always obvious what caused the pain or injury.

I get the feeling that there is a lot more info that Val has, but she kept the post short and to the point rather than rambling on (as some posts do).

RSI is something that takes time to develop (hence the name - repetative!) so it is not unreasonable to assume that your job may cause it.

The point is that she is expecting an employer to be wholly responsible, this is just not the case and there is a large element of self responsibility and if she was having problems then she needed to have informed the employer so they can make appropiate adjustments.

The employer may have some responsibility but not 100%.

KiKi

LilyDeTilly wrote: »

Some people seem to be missing this point.

RSI is something that takes time to develop (hence the name - repetative!) so it is not unreasonable to assume that your job may cause it.

It may well be caused by work. But thinking it - or the doctor thinking it when he hasn't seen the OP's work set-up - is very different from proving it.

The OP asked how to approach it and whether or not it could be proved. A desk assessment may not have been done, but the OP also has responsibilities which need to be fulfilled in order to prove the employer was liable. So people *do* get the point - they understand the OP may not have known, but it still doesn't make (in law) the employer liable for it.


KiKi

zppp

Cannot VDUs be adjusted to suit the user of the equipment? I always adjust my screen before I start a shift.

RedSoleShoes

Googlewhacker wrote: »

The point is that she is expecting an employer to be wholly responsible, this is just not the case and there is a large element of self responsibility and if she was having problems then she needed to have informed the employer so they can make appropiate adjustments.

The employer may have some responsibility but not 100%.

But the lack of desk assessment is not good. An employees environment should be safe in the early stages. It shouldn't get to the point of there being problems or injuries before something is done or even looked at.

mrspanda_2

ValAl, sorry to hear of your difficulties. Have you been to your GP and had any sort of diagnosis and treatment from a qualified medical doctor (e.g. GP). You mention your chiropracter has suggested your work environment may be the cause of your problems but chiropractice is a branch of complementary medicine. Your employer may find your cause more credible if you have a mainstream medical opinion. Apologies if I've misunderstood...

In any case you should see your GP, if you haven't already, as they'll be able to refer you to a back team.

dmg24

zppp wrote: »

Cannot VDUs be adjusted to suit the user of the equipment? I always adjust my screen before I start a shift.

That is because you take responsibility for your own health.

OP, who has actually determined that your screen is too high? Has this person actually seen your work station?

cavework

OP .. has there been in the past or currently anyone else working in the same enviroment for the same company also suffering with the same problems you are experiencing?