In legal first, firm fined $2,000 for exposing staff to risk of RSI

A mobile phone company has been fined $2,000 for poorly positioning workers' computer keyboards and monitors, the first time such a penalty has been imposed in Hong Kong under new workplace regulations.

Labour officials used the Occupational Safety and Health (Display Screen Equipment) Regulation - under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance - to prosecute mobile phone network provider Peoples.

The regulations came into effect in April 2003 to help combat repetitive strain injuries (RSI) in the workplace. Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said yesterday: 'We penalised the employer last month after our inspectors found that the workstations provided were not appropriate.

'Workers had to assume unsuitable positions and we found there was a lot of room for improvement.'

Medical experts have warned for years that bad positioning of workstation, and especially of a keyboard and mouse, can lead to severe RSI in office workers. A well-designed workstation can alleviate the daily strain on hands and wrists caused by typing.

Joseph Lee Kok-long, lawmaker for the health-services sector, said the fine would send a positive message to both bosses and employees to pay attention to a widespread but neglected problem in the workplace. 'I think this latest fine will have a very good educational value and will definitely help raise awareness,' Mr Lee said.