Laboratory Workers/Student - Ergonomics

Ergonomic Risk Factors

The following are ergonomic risk factors that are typically associated with laboratory activities.

·         Awkward postures are positions of the body parts away from their neutral position. These postures can put stress on the joint and its associated muscles. Longer durations and degree of positioning away from neutral increase the severity of the risk. Examples include: flexion/extension of the wrist, abduction of the shoulders (“winged elbows”), flexion of the shoulders (reaching overhead), bending/twisting at the waist, and bending the neck.

·         Contact stress is a sustained contact between a body part and an external object. Examples include: resting the wrist or forearm against a sharp edge/corner.

·         Duration is the period of time that a body part is exposed to an ergonomic risk factor. Longer duration of exposure increase the severity of the risk.

·         Force exertion is the physical effort applied by a body part to perform a task. Higher forces and/or longer durations can increase the severity of the risk. Examples include:  Pushing/pulling, lifting, gripping, and pinching.

·         Forceful impact is a motion where a body part to provide a shock impact to an object. Examples include: using a hand to strike an object.

·         Repetition is the repeated performance of motion that includes other ergonomic risk factors such as force and/or awkward posture. Severity of the risk increases with higher repetition of motions with ergonomic risk factors.

·         Static postures occur when a body part is held in a single position over a long period of time. The severity of a static posture can increase of the posture is awkward, applies continual force, and/or is help for long durations. Examples include: sitting or standing in single position for a long duration.

Task-specific Solutions

The following sections provide solutions for task-specific ergonomic risk factors.

Body Part	Risk Factor	Solutions
Neck and Shoulders	Static & Awkward Posture	·         Storage bins that tilt towards the worker
Lower Back and Legs	Standing for long periods	·         Anti-fatigue mats.
	Seating position	·         Adjustable stool with built-in footrest

Pipetting

Pipetting can involve prolonged duration of standing or sitting, awkward postures of the shoulders and neck, gripping and pinching, and repetition. The general work practice recommendation is to limit Pipetting to a total of 4 hours per day and to take short 1-2 minute breaks every 20 minutes.

Body Part	Risk Factor	Solutions
Neck and Shoulders	Static & Awkward Posture: arms and elbows elevated “winged” elbows; Neck bent forward	·         Flexible-arm clamps ·         Shorter pipetters and pipette tips
Hands and Fingers	Repetitive motions	·         Electronic pipetters ·         Multi-channel pipetters
	Pinch grips	·         Flexible-arm clamps
	Excessive Force	·         Electronic pipetters
Lower Back and Legs	Standing for long periods	·         Anti-fatigue mats

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Azi

Ergonomic Risk Factors

Ergonomic principles of safety refer to making sure that the products and methods a worker uses are a correct match to the worker's specific job and personal capabilities. The importance of ensuring that a worker and the conditions and demands of their job setting are a good fit has a tremendous impact on both workers and the companies that employ them. Generally, when ergonomic principles and practices are followed there is:

·         A reduced risk of illnesses and injuries

·         Higher productivity levels

Ergonomic Risk Factors

Often when people hear the term ergonomics they think of an office setting with an ergonomic chair and computer keyboard. However, ergonomic risk factors exist in many different types of workplaces, as well as in homes and home offices. Examples of risk factors include jobs that require:

·         Repetitive, forceful or prolonged use of the fingers, wrist or hands

·         Excessive, repetitive or constant stress on any part of the body

·         Sitting in one position for long periods of time

·         Heavy lifting

·         Frequent lifting

·         Carrying, pulling or pushing heavy objects

·         Prolonged positions requiring postures that are uncomfortable or awkward

·         Working in areas with constant vibrations

·         Working in extreme hot or cold temperatures

Common Injuries

The resulting injuries develop over time and are known as repetitive stress injuries or cumulative stress disorders that result in injuries to the worker's musculoskeletal system often resulting in chronic painful conditions including:

·         Back pain

·         Neck pain

·         Pain between the shoulders

·         Muscle strains

·         Weakness in an arm, hand or fingers

·         A tingling sensation in an arm, hand or fingers

·         Loss of feeling in an arm, hand or fingers

·         Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

·         Tennis elbow

·         Eye strain

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Thank you so much for your time and support

Azi

How to Set Up Your Workstation to fit you!!

How to Set Up Your Workstation to fit you!!

                                                      www.ergomomicworks.com 

1.         Keep your monitor between 20 and 40 inches (50 and 100 centimeters) from your face. This will reduce eye strain. If the depth of your desk doesn’t allow this, move your monitor to a corner, request a flat screen monitor (if applicable), or purchase an attachable computer tray to create a deeper working surface.

2.         Adjust monitor so that the center sits at eye level. The monitor should always be directly in front of your face (preferably no more than 35 degrees to either side) and at or slightly below eye level. However, if you wear bifocals and usually tilt your head back in order to look down through them at the monitor, lower the monitor (or raise your chair) so that the monitor sits 15 to 20 degrees below eye level; note that this may require you to tilt the screen slightly upwards toward your face.

3.         Place your keyboard so that your upper arms hang vertically. Don’t extend your arms far forwards or bend your elbows back to type.

4.         Keep your keyboard at an acceptable height. To reach the keyboard, your forearms should bend no more than 20 degrees above horizontal (if sitting) or 45 below (if standing).

5.         Place mouse near keyboard. Keep it in a position that will enable you to transition between typing and using the mouse with as little effect on your arm and wrist posture as possible. If you have a 10-key on the right side of your keyboard, you may want to use your mouse on the left side; this centers the part of your keyboard that you use most. You can also alternate left and right-sided mouse usage to dilute the effects of repetitive use.

6.         Arrange items within sight and reach. Place your phone, writing equipment, books and other frequently-used items within easy reach from where you sit. You should not need to stretch to reach frequently used objects.

             7.        If you use a document holder, do not place it to one side of your monitor (unless you also                                                                                                                          use a second one on the other side); turning your head in one direction for prolonged periods fatigues the neck muscles. Instead, position the document holder directly beneath the monitor, angling it between the       monitor and keyboard

Laboratory Ergonomics

In addition to the risk of working daily with hazardous materials and substances, laboratory personnel are also exposed to many ergonomic risks due to the nature of their work and research they conduct.  Laboratory-associated ergonomic risks are the same as those found in the office and general industry.  These risk factors include awkward or sustained postures, highly repetitive movements, excessive force or strain, contact stresses, and vibration.

In the lab, good ergonomic work practices are often sacrificed.  Don't wait for your wake up call, visit our website and complete an ergonomic checklist for your lab or work station.

www.ergonomicworks.com 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb7_ZxYeb78

Tingling Fingers or Finger Numbness?

Dealing with tingling fingers? If so, you may be wondering if the next step is going to be finger numbness. This is definitely a good question. The problem with tingling fingers is that they can be a symptom of several different problems, with the two most common being carpal tunnel syndrome and RSI (repetitive stress injuries). Both of these problems can cause tingling fingers. However, you may be wondering if it is going to only get worse from here. Well, let's take a closer look at the problems and how they often progress.

Carpal Tunnel and RSI

Both carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive stress injuries can cause tingling fingers as well as numbness of the fingers. Carpal tunnel is a problem that deals with the median nerve. Often the carpal tunnel is compressed and presses down on the nerve, causing pain, tingling, and in some cases, even numbness. Repetitive stress injuries are a bit different, although they can include the carpal tunnel. They are injuries that occur because of a motion that is done repetitively, or over and over again. This can definitely cause some painful symptoms, including tingling in the fingers.

Usually Tingling Occurs First

In most cases of carpal tunnel and RSI, you will find that the tingling in the fingers occurs first. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes you will find that the numbness in the fingers can occur first. At times these symptoms may be exclusive of each other, but usually you will find that they do come in pairs.

In Some Cases Finger Numbness Occurs

If you are already dealing with finger tingling, you may find that finger numbness is not far behind. This doesn't always occur this way though. There are some cases when both the tingling and the numbness occur together. In other cases, you may find that the tingling occurs and numbness never ends up occurring.

Ignoring the Problem causes More Problems

While it may seem admirable or courageous to ignore carpal tunnel symptoms, such as finger numbness, in order to keep your job, this can actually cause even more problems. In fact, just ignoring any carpal tunnel symptoms that you have in the beginning can lead to a more severe case of the problem in the long run. It is only early diagnosis and treatment that can help to keep this problem from getting worse, keeping employees more productive when they are on the job.

Let’s us help you contact us at www.ergonomicworks.com. Also watch our video on YouTube by clicking on the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb7_ZxYeb78&list=LLsnSaKuefqOtks3FoJ36j4g

Computer Workers Benefit and Possible Drawbacks from Keyboard Wrist Rest

Computer Workers Benefit from Keyboard Wrist Rest

For those who work at computers all the time, one of the best pieces of equipment to have is a good keyboard wrist rest. They can help to prevent repetitive stress injuries and even carpal tunnel syndrome. These wrist rests are designed in such a way that they keep the wrists from being able to bend backwards while users are typing or using the mouse. They help to take some of the pressure from the shoulders and provide a softer surface for the wrist to lie on.

Possible Drawbacks

First of all, there are a few drawbacks to some keyboard wrist rests that you need to be aware of. In some cases, if the rest is too high or thick, it can cause the wrist to flex forward, which can be damaging. For rests that come with sharper edges, they can end up being uncomfortable. In some cases, certain designs of wrist rests can actually cause pressure on the carpal tunnel, leading to median nerve compression. These are just a few drawbacks that you'll want to watch out for when considering a wrist rest for your keyboard. With many different designs on the market, careful shopping will allow you to choose the right wrist rest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb7_ZxYeb78&list=LLsnSaKuefqOtks3FoJ36j4g

Causes of Stress at Work – Could It Be Your Workstation Set-Up?

When you think of your workstation set-up, you probably think of where your phone, your stapler, your personal items, and maybe where your coffee cup sit. You probably don’t think much about whether your computer workstation is set up for the a little or a lot of stress. There’s more to stress at work than just the demands of your productivity.  Just sitting at a computer all day can give your body a tremendous amount of stress if not set up properly. Stress on your neck, shoulders, back, elbows, forearms, wrists, and hands are all part of a poorly aligned computer workstation.  The way you sit and use your computer can cause chronic pain and stress. That tight neck and aching shoulders could be coming from the way you sit and use your computer rather than mental stress and strain. This stress and strain can be a big drain on your productivity and on your physical well-being.

To ease the physical stress on your body during work, make sure you workstation is set to provide you the best ergonomic environment. 

Your monitor should sit centered so your eyes focus on the top of the monitor, about arm's length away. Place you keyboard in the center.

Your desk should be about belly button height.  Usually this is between twenty and twenty-eight inches from the floor. If you have a fixed desk height, you may consider using a keyboard tray to place your keyboard and mouse at the proper height for optimal ergonomics.  Also make sure there is sufficient space under your desk for your legs to be in a comfortable position no matter which way you are sitting. Minimum under desk clearance for your legs should be fifteen inches from your knees. Making a few simple changes to your desk can produce a much more comfortable and less stressful work environment.

Avoid glass desktops or any finish that could cause a glare. Even a small amount of glare at your workstation can place undue stress on your eyes.

Your chair should allow your knees to be at ninety degree angles with feet flat on the floor and should allow you to sit up straight with sufficient back support.

Just following these simple set-up rules will reduce stress on you upper body. Check your workstation and make adjustments as recommended. You’ll be pleasantly rewarded with less stress. Contact us if you would like personal Ergonomic assessment of your workstation.

www.ergonomicworks.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb7_ZxYeb78&list=LLsnSaKuefqOtks3FoJ36j4g