Laboratory Ergonomics
Continuing Education Credits
Do you experience pain or stiffness in your back, arms, or legs at the end of your work day or after performing the same task at work for prolonged periods of time? Perhaps your workstation, equipment, and/or work practices are the cause. Whether you are an employer or an employee, it is important to recognize the work hazards that can lead to musculoskeletal injury, determine what improvements or changes should be made, and take action to improve your workspace.
Objectives
- Define ergonomics.
- Discuss the role of ergonomics in a laboratory safety program.
- Identify ergonomic risk areas in the laboratory.
- Provide solutions to common ergonomic hazards.
Course Outline
- Introduction
- Ergonomics
- Ergonomic Evaluation
- The scientific study of a human response to the work environment is referred to as which of the following?
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Causes of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Repetitive Motion Injuries
- Eyestrain
- Which of the following is a symptom of a repetitive motion injury?
- Light sensitivity and headaches are symptoms of what disorder?
- Ergonomic Strategies
- Learn to Use Your "Ergonomic Eye"
- Body Position
- Ergonomic Guidelines for Computer Users
- Examine the image on the right. What problems can you see that may lead to MSDs for this laboratory worker if their job involves frequent computer use for prolonged periods?
- Guidelines for Lifting, Lowering, and Carrying
- Which of the following is not a good work practice?
- Your Ergonomic Assessment
- Work Station
- Lighting
- Posture and Exercises
- What is the recommended reach radius for items that are used routinely at your work station?
- Scenarios
- Scenario #1
- Scenario #2
- Scenario #3Jim spends most of his workday sitting on a stool at the technical workbench. The image on this page illustrates how he routinely sits. The arrows indicate that his feet are off the floor. Lately, he has been experiencing lower back and leg discomfort that persists when he leaves work. He has been having trouble sleeping due to pain in his legs. Eventually, the pain progresses to the po
- Which of the following is not considered an ergonomic hazard?
- The Ergonomics Program
- Creating an Ergonomically Safe Work Environment
- The Four E's
- References
- References
Additional Information
Level of Instruction: Basic
Intended Audience: Medical laboratory scientists, medical laboratory technicians, laboratory supervisors, and laboratory managers. This course is also appropriate for MLS and MLT students and pathology residents.
Author Information: Tanya Barrett, MLS(ASCP) is the Laboratory Information System and Point-of-Care Coordinator for St. Francis Medical Center and St. Francis North Hospital in Monroe, Louisiana and a faculty member for the Medical Center's School of Medical Technology. She also serves as the laboratory's Safety Officer and has over 40 hours of training in Occupational Safety.
The author has no conflict of interest to disclose.
Reviewer Information:
Joshua J. Cannon, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSHCM received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Science from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. He holds Medical Laboratory Scientist and Specialist in Hematology certifications through the ASCP Board of Certification. He was a professor at Thomas Jefferson University for seven years before transitioning into his current role as Education Developer at MediaLab by Vastian. His areas of expertise and professional passions include clinical hematology and interprofessional education.
Daniel J. Scungio, MLS(ASCP), SLS, CQA (ASQ) has over 25 years of experience as a certified medical laboratory scientist. He has a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology from the State University of New York at Buffalo in Amherst and Buffalo, New York. Dan worked as a laboratory generalist in hospitals ranging in size from 75 to 800 beds before becoming a laboratory manager. After 10 years of lab management, he became the Laboratory Safety Officer for a system of more than 10 hospitals and over 20 laboratories and draw sites in the Tidewater area of Virginia.
Course Description: This course explores general ergonomic issues that may concern any worker and specific ergonomic issues related to the laboratory work environment. The course also discusses actions that can be taken to prevent job-related musculoskeletal disorders.