Struggling with a work-related upper limb disorder? We can help you claim
Work-related upper limb disorder (WRULD) is a collective term for injuries affecting the hands, arms, shoulders and neck, including repetitive strain injuries (RSI), typically caused by repetitive work tasks. These conditions can make everyday tasks painful and difficult, and if left untreated, they can lead to long-term health problems. Treatment may involve ergonomic adjustments to your working environment, rest, splints, and physical therapy.
If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by a WRULD, we can help you make a No Win, No Fee compensation claim.
Essential points when claiming for work-related upper limb disorder
- Employers have a duty of care to protect their workforce from vibration-related hazards, including vibrating tools, and heavy machinery, by providing suitable training, PPE and requiring regular breaks and task rotation.
- If you have a history of vibration-related conditions, like RSI, your employer must take additional precautions.
- If your employer failed to adequately manage the risk, and you developed a WRULD, you can claim compensation.
- You have up to 3 years from the date your condition was diagnosed to start a claim.
- You can make a no win, no fee claim.
- Your compensation will depend on the seriousness of your condition, and your financial losses and expenses. You can find out how much you can claim with our compensation calculator.
- If WRULD has forced you to change jobs, you can also claim for future lost earnings.
With nearly 1/2million workers suffering from a work-related musculoskeletal disorder, you are not alone
Work-related upper limb disorders (WRULDs) are common, especially in occupations involving repetitive motions, prolonged use of vibrating tools, or sustained awkward postures. These disorders frequently occur in office settings with extensive computer use, in manufacturing or assembly line work, and in professions requiring fine manual dexterity, such as dentistry and electronics assembly.
The rise in computer-based jobs and industries reliant on repetitive manual tasks has contributed to an increased in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), tendonitis, and repetitive strain injuries (RSI).
In 2022/23, 473,000 workers were suffering from a work-related musculoskeletal disorder (hse.gov.uk).
If you decide to make a work-related upper limb disorder claim, your industrial disease solicitor will take you through every step of the claims process. Your solicitor will be with you until you win your claim and get the compensation you need to move forward.
If you are looking for NHS information on the most common types of upper limb disorder symptoms and treatments, see:
Repetitive strain injury (RSI) (nhs.uk)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (nhs.uk)
Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) (nhs.uk)
How much compensation can I claim for a work-related upper limb disorder?
Your claim for your work-related upper limb disorder will be based on:
- the severity of your injury,
- the effect of your injury on your everyday routine and your job,
- any costs or financial impacts you?ve suffered due to your injury.
Work-related upper limb disorder
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General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA). Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.
Special damages are for financial losses and expenses you have incurred because of your accident. In addition to paying for loss of earnings (including future anticipated earnings loss), retraining costs, career trajectory impact, special damages can cover any care costs and medical procedures you need, such as physical therapy, ergonomic adjustments, pain medication and psychological support.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Average work-related upper limb disorder compensation payouts
The following work-related upper limb disorder payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).
These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.
Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).
Work-related Upper Limb Disorder (WRULD)
Severity | Example | Amount |
---|---|---|
Minor (relatively) | Complete recovery within a few months | £2,450 to £3,920 |
Moderate | Symptoms resolving in the course of up to three years | £9,590 to £11,930 |
Serious | Continuing, but fluctuating symptoms affecting one arm | £16,530 to £18,130 |
Severe | Continuing disability affecting both arms, affecting your ability to work and requiring surgery | £24,310 to £25,650 |
Do I have a work-related upper limb disorder claim?
Yes, you can make an injury claim for a work-related upper limb disorder, if:
- you were injured within the last 3 years, and;
- someone else was to blame, and;
- they had a legal responsibility to prevent foreseeable harm.
Find out online if you can claim with our injury claim calculator. Alternatively, you can speak to a claims advisor on 0800 376 1001 and find out if you have a claim in minutes.
Am I still eligible to claim if I was partially responsible?
Determining legal responsibility for a claimant's injuries can involve myriad factors.
In our recent 2025 Work Injury Claimant Survey, 26.02% of injured workers believed they may have been partly (or wholly) responsible for their injuries.
You could still have a valid claim if you were partly to blame for your injury or illness. If you were injured at work, you can claim compensation from your employer even if you or a co-worker caused the accident.
Read more:
Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?
How long do I have to start a work-related upper limb disorder claim?
In most cases, you have 3 years from the date of your accident or injury.
You may still be able to claim compensation if you were injured by another's negligence and you only discovered it later. Generally, the clock starts ticking from the date you were diagnosed or became aware of your injury.
Which medical conditions are considered to be work-related upper limb disorders?
Brought on by continually repetitive or strenuous activities, if a person is affected by a work-related upper limb disorder, an employer could be held liable if they failed to effectively manage and control the risks associated with the condition.
Upper limb disorders affect the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves or other soft tissues in the upper limbs. They include repetitive strain injury (RSI), cumulative trauma disorder and occupational overuse syndrome.
The most common work related upper limb disorder claims include:
Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) claims, Vibration White Finger (VWF) claims and Repetitive strain injury (RSI) claims
See a comprehensive list of WRULDs
The following conditions are often associated with repetitive motions, awkward postures, or the use of vibrating tools:
- Bursitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)
- De Quervain's Syndrome
- Diffuse Repetitive Strain Injury
- Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow/Golfer's Elbow)
- Ganglion Cyst
- Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)
- Peritendinitis crepitans
- Raynaud’s Phenomenon
- Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
- Rotator Cuff Syndrome
- Tendonitis
- Tenosynovitis
- Trigger Finger
- Vibration White Finger (VWF)
Diagnosing the condition
Diagnosing a WRULD involves identifying symptoms like tenderness, swelling, aches, stiffness, weakness, numbness, tingling, and cramp. A WRULD is confirmed if linked to work activities, with a medical assessment needed to determine the cause.
Professions most at risk include construction workers (especially those using vibrating tools), carpenters, gardeners, keyboard operators, assembly line workers, and kitchen staff involved in food preparation.
Upon diagnosis, appropriate treatment should be sought, and the affected individual should inform their employer to prompt changes in work processes or conditions for improved safety.
Is my employer liable?
Your employer is liable if they failed to adequately protect you from conditions that could lead to a WRULD.
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers must manage and control risks associated with work-related upper limb disorders.
This responsibility includes conducting thorough risk assessments, considering factors such as repetition, comfort, force, duration, environment, and work control.
Specific tasks may also fall under other regulations, like the Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992.
By not adhering to these procedures and regulations, employers may be considered negligent and, therefore, liable for any injuries that result from their negligence.
See also:
Employer responsibility in WRULD claims
Work accident claims, or employers' liability claims, differ from other types of claim. Click on the icons below to read more about claiming:
Can I make a no win, no fee work-related upper limb disorder claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim work-related upper limb disorder compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.
Get expert advice now
Interested in talking to an industrial disease specialist about your claim?
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Call 0800 376 1001
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Bursitis - NHS (reviewed: 27/07/2024)
Carpal tunnel syndrome - NHS (reviewed: 28/07/2024)
Repetitive strain injury (RSI) - NHS (reviewed: 29/07/2024)
Tendonitis - NHS (reviewed: 02/08/2024)
The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 (reviewed: 01/08/2024)
Author:
Howard Willis, Personal injury solicitor
About the author
Howard Willis qualified as a solicitor in 1984 and has specialised in personal injury for over 25 years. He is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and is a recognised Law Society Personal Injury Panel expert.