5five ways to improve ergonomics in the laboratory...five ways to improve ergonomics in the...

5Five Ways to Improve Ergonomics in the Laboratory By Christy Lotz, CPE

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Five Ways to Improve Ergonomics in the Laboratory

About HumantechAbout HumantechFor over 30 years, global companies have relied on Humantech for workplace improvements. By combining the science of ergonomics and our unique 30-Inch View®—where people, work, and environment intersect—we deliver practical solutions that impact safety, quality, and productivity. At Humantech, we know people make productivity happen.

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About Christy LotzChristy Lotz, Managing Consultant and Ergonomics Engineer for Humantech, oversees large-scale ergonomic initiatives in the manufacturing and health care industries and helps organizations build internal ergonomics expertise. Christy works closely with companies to understand their needs and develops a process that will allow them to integrate human factors into production operations. Christy has worked extensively with Toyota on the development and delivery of North American ergonomics training. Her industry experience ranges from pharmaceutical to heavy-vehicle manufacturing. Clients include Eli Lilly, Applied Materials, International Paper, and Toyota.

Christy received a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a Master of Science degree in Ergonomics and Biomechanics from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Christy has achieved recognition as a Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE) and a Canadian Certified Professional Ergonomist (CCPE).







IntroductionWhen the laboratory established itself in the world of research many decades ago, the activities centered on a single table or countertop. Since then, the lab work area has evolved into lab benches and technology has advanced to include automated centrifuge systems and chemical assays. Computers were added for microprocessing, image analysis, and robotic control. Regulations were established for exhaust and fume control, leading to biosafety cabinets and ventilation systems.

With new technology, production has increased, exposing technicians to more ergonomic risk factors as they perform many precise yet repetitive tasks commonly found in the lab. As the physical space and work tasks continue to evolve, it’s essential to evaluate the lab environment and how its employees interact with equipment, materials, and products. Workstations must match the requirements of people in terms of height, reach, access, and differences in strength and body size. In other words, we need to ensure the laboratory is “ergonomic.”

How this e-book can helpThe laboratory environment poses unique challenges resulting from the use of specialized equipment including pipettes and test tubes, microscopes, vortex mixers, and fume hoods. Increasing your awareness of existing and potential ergonomic issues in the lab, knowing how to adjust workstations to fit the employee, and using proper work practices within your organization can improve overall comfort, accuracy, and productivity at work. In addition to reaping the benefits of these improvements, you and your fellow laboratory employees will be at a lower risk for a work-related injury.







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What’s insideThis e-book introduces tools and provides guidance to help you make your laboratory a productive, comfortable, and safe place to work by applying ergonomics principles.

Whether tasks in your lab include pipetting, microscope work, ventilated workstations, or animal handling, this book will help you

● identify poor ergonomic conditions.

● improve on-the-job comfort and productivity.

● identify signs and symptoms of musculoskeletal injuries.

● perform work in a safe manner.

● reduce work-related injuries and illnesses and the associated costs.

We will examine ergonomic issues associated with five common laboratory tasks and some best practices that can reduce or eliminate ergonomic risk for each.







ContentsUnderstanding ergonomic risk factors .......................................................... 2

Five ways to improve:

#1 – Pipetting ........................................................................................... 5

#2 – Ventilated workstations ................................................................. 7

#3 – Microscopes ..................................................................................... 9

#4 – Workstations and workbenches ................................................ 11

#5 – Manual material handling ........................................................... 13

Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 15





Five Ways to Improve Ergonomics in the Laboratory | Page 2


Understanding Ergonomic Risk FactorsWhat is ergonomics?The U.S. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) defines ergonomics as designing the workplace and tasks to fit the capabilities of the working population. It is a relentless pursuit and continuous effort to design the workplace for what people do well, and design against what people do not do well, thereby fitting the job to the person to enhance human performance.

Ergonomics = Fitting the job to the person

Goals of good ergonomicsThe goals of ergonomics are to provide a positive working environment in which

● the design of equipment, work layouts, and work environments matches the capabilities of people so they can lead healthy and productive lives.

● differences in job tasks and body sizes among employees are accommodated.

● job hassle, soreness, and potential injury can be avoided.







Ergonomic injuriesErgonomic injuries, also known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) or soft tissue injuries, are disorders of the muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage, blood vessels, or spinal discs. MSD is a class of illness that is the result of months and years of overuse of human joints and connective tissues such that they become sore and sometimes unusable.

Common signs and symptoms of MSDs include:

Because early diagnosis and treatment of these symptoms are critical to successful recovery from an MSD illness, laboratory workers should report signs and symptoms of MSDs as soon as they occur.







Ergonomic risk factorsThe three primary ergonomic risk factors that cause MSDs are awkward posture, high force, and high frequency or long duration. Combinations of postures, forces, and frequencies increase the chance of developing an MSD.

Awkward postures increase the force and level of exertion required to complete your work, and they may stress joints and reduce blood flow. It is when the awkward postures become extreme that you need to examine the task to see what changes you can make. Maintaining a neutral joint posture while performing work should always be the goal.

High forces increase loading on the joints, and increase the risk of injury. In a lab environment, this may come from pushing/pulling carts, lifting boxes from a conveyor to a pallet, or handling carboys. Prolonged or repeated exertions of this type can cause a feeling of fatigue, and may contribute to musculoskeletal problems when there is inadequate time for rest or recovery.

Higher frequency or long durations of awkward postures and/or forces increase the potential for joint damage. An aluminum can is a good example of how low forces can damage the underlying structure when applied repeatedly. Lightly squeezing the can will cause the sides to bend inward, but the can will regain its shape. However, if we apply this same force repeatedly, say 100 or 200 times, a break may eventually occur in the aluminum sides.

Physical stressorsCertain physical stressors can magnify the three primary risk factors:

● Vibration – contact with vibrating objects can reduce blood flow (e.g., manual vortex)

● Low temperatures – temperatures below 66°F (19°C) can limit blood flow (e.g., working in a sample freezer or lifting boxes from dry ice freezer)

● Soft tissue compression – static pressure on body tissues reduces blood flow (e.g., leaning forearms on the edge of a workbench when using a microscope)

● Impact stress – a dynamic force applied to the body can limit blood flow (e.g., using your hip to close a drawer)

● Glove issues – gloves reduce blood flow and increase the force required to grasp objects (e.g., using tweezers while wearing gloves)





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Pipetting Pipetting is one of the most common laboratory tasks. Technicians may perform pipetting tasks for more than 20 hours per week. Pipette design has significantly improved in the last decade. Manufacturers recognize the need to consider ergonomics in design and have moved away from high-force, single-channel, manual plungers to lightweight, low-force, multi-channel pipettes.

Specific risk factors associated with pipetting include:

Posture ● Wrist bending and twisting

● Extending elbows out to the sides

● Neck bending

● Reaching too far away from the body

Force ● Pinch grips when handling pipette tips and opening vials

● Thumb force when pressing plunger

Frequency ● Repeated hand, thumb, finger, and forearm motions

● Holding awkward postures

● Standing for long periods of time

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Consider these best practices when pipetting:

● Use thin-walled pipette tips that are easy to eject to reduce pinch grip forces.

● Replace manual, plunger-operated pipettes with electronic ones to eliminate contact pressure on the thumb.

● Limit continuous pipetting to 20 minutes by alternating tasks and taking short breaks.

● Use shorter pipettes and low-profile waste receptacles for used tips to encourage neutral elbow postures and reduce reaching.

● Work with neutral wrists and keep the elbows at your sides whenever possible.





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Ventilated workstations Ventilated workstations include biosafety cabinets, fume hoods, and glove boxes. The limited work access and restricted movement typical at ventilated workstations often lead to a variety of awkward postures, and the design and placement of fume hoods in the lab can increase the exposure to them.

Specific risk factors associated with ventilated workstations include:

Posture ● Excessive reaching due to space limitations

● Elbows out or away from the body

● Unsupported back postures

● Extended neck postures due to visual constraints

Force ● Reaching to the back of the enclosure to retrieve parts

● Lifting/lowering enclosure panels

● Handling carboys

Frequency ● Sitting/standing for long periods

● Unsupported back postures for long durations

● Limited knee well space may result in sustained awkward postures or soft tissue compression at the knees, thighs, and abdomen

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Consider these best practices when using ventilated workstations:

● Place materials as close as possible to the edge of the workstation to reduce reaching.

● A general rule is to handle frequently used and heavier items within 11" (28 cm) from the front edge of the workstation, and less frequently used and lighter-weight items within 22" (56 cm). If you are unable to move materials closer to the operator, consider applying foam padding to sharp workstation edges to prevent contact pressure on the forearms, wrists, abdomen, or thighs. Make sure the padding does not interfere with air flow.

● For seated workstations, provide enough knee and leg space to prevent contact pressure and awkward working postures. Chair armrests should be adjustable so the technician can move the chair close to the workstation edge.

● For standing workstations, use anti-fatigue matting to reduce foot and leg discomfort. Keep in mind the following specifications:

• ≥ 0.5" (1.3 cm) thick • Interlocking, beveled edges• Extend at least 8" (20 cm) under the workstation

● Keep viewing windows clean and sight lines unobstructed to reduce eyestrain and awkward postures. Ensure biosafety cabinet or hood lighting is working properly and is sufficient for the task.

● Consider using a height adjustable enclosure to allow either sitting or standing while working. Or, install two fixed-height enclosures in the lab, one seated and one standing, to allow technicians to alternate between each station throughout the shift.





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Microscopes Using a microscope, microtome, or vortex is a common practice in many labs. Due to the nature of this activity, it is not uncommon for a technician to repeat thousands of hand and wrist movements throughout the day when using a microscope or microtome. Although the forces are relatively low, the higher frequency may increase the chance of developing an MSD.

Specific risk factors associated with microscopes and microtomes include:

Posture ● Flexed neck and back

● Raised or shrugged shoulders

● Elbows out or away from the body

● Awkward hand and wrist postures

Force ● Pinch grip when working with samples

● Power grip when turning microtome wheel or adjusting the microscope

Frequency ● Sitting/standing for long periods


● Continuous vibration exposure when vortexing

● Constant soft tissue compression due to limited leg and knee clearance

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Consider these best practices when using a microscope/microtome/vortex:

● Maintain proper posture and take regular rest breaks to combat the long hours and static postures associated with microscope work.

● Maintain neutral neck, wrist, and shoulder postures.

● Keep elbows in at the sides.

● Position scope close to the edge of the workstation to limit leaning in.

● To reduce eyestrain, keep the scope clean and make sure lighting is adequate.

● Use armrests to reduce tissue compression on the forearms.

● Follow eyepiece guidelines to encourage the best posture and to minimize the chance for strain or injury:

• Height adjustable ≥ 4" (10.2 cm)• Extensions 3.5" (9 cm)• Vertical displacement angle adjustable (0° - 180°)• Fit rubber eyecups to eyepieces for comfort• Use an eyepiece-free magnifier, if possible

● Use tube holders to minimize prolonged gripping and vibration when vortexing.





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Workstations and workbenchesAlthough microscopes, fume hoods, and pipettes may all be used at a lab workstation, there are often additional tasks that lab technicians must perform, such as handling materials, completing paperwork, and entering data into computers.

Additional risk factors associated with performing tasks at lab workstations and workbenches include:

Posture ● Reaching too far for materials

● Bending down to retrieve parts

● Extended wrist postures when typing

Force ● Manual material handling

● Lifting weights onto scales for calibration

● Loading parts onto racks for cleaning

Frequency ● Sustained awkward postures when using a lab workbench as a computer

workstation


● Frequent material handling

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Consider these best practices when working at a lab workstation or workbench:

● Make sure there is enough knee and leg space to prevent contact pressure and awkward working postures. You may be able to create leg room by removing a drawer cabinet or redesigning the workstation layout. If leg clearance is not available, use the workstation only for standing work. The proper measurements for sufficient knee and leg room are:

• Depth ≥ 18" (45.7 cm)• Width ≥ 30" (76.2 cm)• Thigh clearance ≥ 8" (20.3 cm)

● Adjust the workbench height according to the type of work being done at the workstation.

● For seated work, use an adjustable chair for proper back, leg, and foot support.





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Manual material handlingIt is difficult to escape the material handling requirements that are present in the majority of labs. Material handling tasks required in the lab may include animal handling (changing cages, bedding, water bottles etc.), pushing/pulling carts, lifting/lowering carboys, and more. These types of tasks place stress on the back, elbows, and shoulders.

Specific risk factors associated with animal handling include:

Posture ● Back bending when retrieving bags, boxes, and supplies from pallets,

bins, and the floor

● Arms raised when lifting overhead

● Elbows out when scooping bedding into cages, or weighing compounds

Force ● Pinch grip when using tweezers

● Pushing carts or racks

● Hammering containers or cages against an edge to remove soiled bedding and chemicals

Frequency ● Frequent pinching when using tweezers

● Frequent power grip when scooping powders for weighing

● Constant bending, lifting, pushing, and pulling

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Consider these best practices to improve material handling tasks:

● To reduce push forces, use a powered pusher, which can do most of the work for you.

● If a powered pusher is not feasible, consider improving rack/cart design. Ensure casters are appropriate for the surface and weight and that they have the proper diameter (> 8" or 20 cm).

● Make sure the standing surface is clean and free of debris before manually handling materials. Ideally, technicians should be able to push, not pull, a cart or rack to limit back twisting and neck twisting.

● Try to place heavier objects (bags of feed, water bottles, cages, etc.) in the comfort zone, below shoulder height and above knee height.

● Limit storage heights to 49" (1.3 m) for heavy or frequently retrieved materials and equipment. Limit storage heights for lightweight (< 10 lb or 4.5 kg) materials and equipment to 62" (1.6 m).







ConclusionImproving the ergonomic issues in your lab may seem like a daunting task. With so many risk factors present, you may think you will never improve! But when you consider the key risk factors (posture, force, and frequency) one at a time, your opportunities become clearer. It can be difficult to reduce force because we are limited by suppliers, change control, and equipment constraints. It may be even harder to reduce frequency, due to ever-increasing productivity demands. If you focus on just one risk factor, consider posture. This is the easiest risk factor to change and can have a huge impact on the burden for your technicians.

Once you know what ergonomic risks to look for, you’ll be able to prioritize issues and begin to address what we like to call the “low-hanging fruit,” the easy-to-do, high-impact fixes. Remember to get the technicians involved, too. You will be surprised at the great ideas that they will have to improve ergonomics when they know what to look for.

For more information on workplace ergonomics, please consult the following free resources:

● Ergopoints e-newsletter – Humantech’s board-certified professional ergonomists offer quick tips and techniques to optimize computer work areas for maximum comfort and health in this free monthly e-newsletter.

● The 30-Inch View® – Humantech’s company blog offers expert advice, quick tips, product reviews, interviews, website resources and much more. Plus, your comments and questions are always welcome here.

● Five Mistakes Companies Make with Ergonomics – The 16-page free e-book includes key elements of a sustainable and effective ergonomics process plus links to many useful references.





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