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Explorer  
#1 Posted : 03 April 2013 15:27:24(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Explorer

Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome reportable if the diagnosis is from computer and mouse usage
SamJen1973  
#2 Posted : 03 April 2013 16:00:49(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
SamJen1973

No, carpal tunnel is only reportable in relation to working with hand-held vibrating tools. http://www.legislation.g...995/3163/schedule/3/made
walker  
#3 Posted : 03 April 2013 16:10:45(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
walker

Whose Diagnosis ? Certainly a GP is not competent to do this
Explorer  
#4 Posted : 03 April 2013 16:17:44(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Explorer

Yes, GP diagnosis. Thanks for the responses!
Explorer  
#5 Posted : 03 April 2013 16:18:54(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Explorer

Ok thanks, was unclear, I thought it was with use of tools but saw something last week that indicated different. Your info has helped.
martinw  
#6 Posted : 03 April 2013 16:44:56(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
martinw

Walker what on earth are you on about? Of course a GP can diagnose CTS, that is how it is normally diagnosed. If the GP is not entirely sure, then they can order blood tests and other gubbins, but they certainly diagnose this. Strange statement to make, and misleading IMHO.
Mandar  
#7 Posted : 03 April 2013 17:17:45(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Mandar

I think it is a debatable issue. My issue is that if 8. Cramp of the hand or forearm due to repetitive movements. (Work involving prolonged periods of handwriting, typing or other repetitive movements of the fingers, hand or arm. ) can be reportable. Then why not CTS with excessive use of Computer mouse?
walker  
#8 Posted : 04 April 2013 08:14:28(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
walker

martinw wrote:
Walker what on earth are you on about? Of course a GP can diagnose CTS, that is how it is normally diagnosed. If the GP is not entirely sure, then they can order blood tests and other gubbins, but they certainly diagnose this. Strange statement to make, and misleading IMHO.
Its actually quite difficult to diagnose. You obviously have a much greater faith in GP's knowledge than I have. GPs are renown for throwing words at patients to get them out of the surgery rather than sending them for (competent) specialist help.
mejacklin  
#9 Posted : 04 April 2013 16:21:56(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
mejacklin

Not reportable. There is no strong evidence of causality between work activities and CTS. Needs specialist OH assessment ASAP. You should of course try to address any ergonomic issues in light of diagnosis as these will help symptoms as well as cause. Mark Consultant in Occupational Medicine @ Mandar - Cramp is not CTS.
martinw  
#10 Posted : 04 April 2013 18:37:51(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
martinw

Walker agreed, it is difficult to diagnose, but a lot of GP's do have a good amount of orthopaedic knowledge which they picked up during their rotations prior to becoming GP's. It is, similar to the requirement with H&S bods, acknowledgement of their own knowledge limitations that can get some GP's to refer a CTS potential sufferer to an orthopaedic surgeon (or another such as Mark below) for further investigation and potentially suitable treatment. But to make the statement that GP's are not competent to diagnose CTS is a bit of a blanket statement and is frankly rubbish.
chris42  
#11 Posted : 05 April 2013 08:35:58(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
chris42

My GP diagnosed that I potentially had CTS and sent me to a specialist to confirm. The specialist sent me for tests which involved sending electrical pulses through my arm from my elbow to finger tip and measuring the time taken. The electrical pulses increased in intensity until he could tell I was about to punch him (with the arm not currently being tested), as I'm sure he did a few more than necessary. This then confirmed everyone diagnosis. I was also told it was probably from keyboard overuse and working when tired etc (long days).
craiggillespie  
#12 Posted : 31 July 2024 10:11:18(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
craiggillespie

I know carpal tunnel syndrome is reportable under RIDDOR, but my situation is the employee was diagnosed over two years ago and we have nothing on file from that time. He is now asking me to reported as such, can you respectively report it to the HSE as a RIDDOR?

peter gotch  
#13 Posted : 31 July 2024 10:49:34(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
peter gotch

Hi Craig

Nothing to stop you retrospectively reporting something to HSE, though it might raise some eyebrows two years later.

The relevant part of RIDDOR says:

Occupational diseases 8.Where, in relation to a person at work, the responsible person receives a diagnosis of— (a) Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, where the person’s work involves regular use of percussive orvibrating tools; (b) cramp in the hand or forearm, where the person’s work involves prolonged periods ofrepetitive movement of the fingers, hand or arm;

I am going to assume for now that your organisation is the responsible person.

However, diagnosis  is a defined term.

“diagnosis” means a registered medical practitioner’s identification (in writing, where it pertains to an employee) of— (a) new symptoms; or (b) symptoms which have significantly worsened;

So this is not an employee telling you that they have CTS but a medical practitioner setting this out in writing.

.....and probably in this case explaining why it has taken so long to belatedly diagnose the condition, which, in turn would help explain to HSE why your report is delayed.

Worth remembering that making a RIDDOR report is in no way any admission of liability.

thanks 1 user thanked peter gotch for this useful post.
MikeKelly on 31/07/2024(UTC)
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