The number of office staff who suffer from Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) has reached alarming levels, according to a research.

The study said about 68 per cent of staff experience RSI problems.

The study of more than 1,000 office-goers suggests that $544.5 million worth of working hours could be lost globally each year due partly to poorly fitted office chairs, leading to backache and shoulder pain.

The problem is particularly acute in the Middle East, with the long working hours and hot summer months preventing staff taking breaks from the computer screen.

With office space across the UAE drastically increasing - doubling in Dubai alone in 2008 - the Middle East’s leading office furniture supplier, OFIS has teamed up with German based manufacturers Dauphin – the human design group, to provide advice and solutions to the increasing problem.

“There are some very simple things people can do to reduce RSI like avoiding bent and twisted wrist positions, using keyboard shortcuts instead of the computer mouse, and ensuring that the office chair is fitted correctly for their size and height,” said Pauly Jos sales manager, OFIS.

Despite the huge increase in work-related injuries there are more products coming into the market than ever before to deal with the problems of being seated at a desk for long periods of time, including one chair which automatically adjusts to fit perfectly with each user.

“We all sit too long each day, and the more an activity is carried out while in the same position, the more the health problems are increased,” said Malte Lenkeit, Erganomics Consultant at Dauphin.

“Workers who spend a lot of time sitting down often complain about neck and back ache. The result is days off and lower productivity,” he added. - TradeArabia News Service