How to Prevent MSD When Working in a Laboratory

With the tremendous advancement in medical technology, laboratories play a major role in diagnosing and treating diseases and other medical conditions. But, the laboratory as a working environment has many risks affecting the working personnel in the lab.

In a day, for hours, laboratory technicians leaned over their microscopes, used pipettes continuously to transfer samples, and bent over patients to collect blood samples.

Here are some ways to prevent musculoskeletal disorders by reducing the stress on joints and muscles and improving blood circulation to work briskly with more energy.

Handling Musculoskeletal Disorders

Musculoskeletal disorders commonly found among healthcare workers affect laboratory personnel to a greater extent. Injuries that occur in the joints of the neck, back, shoulders, arms, wrists, and legs, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels are musculoskeletal disorders.

In a laboratory setup, musculoskeletal disorders occur due to repeated tasks or following the same movement pattern while carrying out the routine task of taking samples or testing samples.

The laboratory work environment is unique, for it requires special ergonomic procedures to protect the lab personnel from both musculoskeletal disorders and infection. Inadequate staff, patient rooms that lack proper infrastructure, demanding work situations, lack of good work morale affect laboratory personnel.

Tips to prevent musculoskeletal disorders (MSD)

Here are some tips to follow while working in the laboratory to avoid musculoskeletal disorders.

• On the lab bench, sit as close to the bench as possible. Rest your back in the lab chair. If your feet don’t reach the floor, use a footstool to rest. Tilt the seat forward to sit in a better working position.
• Use copyholders to position the reading material and avoid looking down for long hours while reading.
• While using the microscope, adjust the height of the chair, table surface, and the microscope. Don’t jutt your chin forward while looking into the microscope.
• Sit close to the work area. Adjust the chair until you reach the bench in a comfortable position.
• If you need to stand in one place for extended hours, it is better to use cushioned mats and manage the pressure on the legs.
• Comfortable lab chairs that provide lumbar support and footrest must be used to help the lab personnel feel comfortable and work with ease.
• To control knob access easier, place the microscope to the edge of the lab bench. Use microscope adapters to raise the microscope to your comfort level. Use a microscope alternatively with other tasks to avoid prolonged sitting.
• The kick space area under your lab bench must be clear of spare equipment or lab supplies.
• Have enough space for your legs and feet to avoid awkward posture while using the microscope.
• Using an industrial height footstool helps to maintain the correct posture and position. The lab technicians need not bend forward with their neck, shoulders, and back. It allows technicians to bend forward at the hips and prevents strain on the neck and the back.

How to avoid Wrist/Hand Discomfort

• Laboratory technicians mostly complain of having hand and shoulder pain while using pipettes to transfer samples while conducting tests. Take care to keep the wrist in a straight position, as if shaking hands. Don’t rotate or twist the wrist.
• Use electronic pipettes or light touch models that suit the hand size of the user.
• Take care to keep the wrist straight while picking test tubes in and out of the centrifuge.
• While working in a hood, use elbow pads to reduce pressure on your arms.
• Use gloves that fit your hand. Gloves that are too small or big can stress hands while working.

How to avoid Repeated Tasks

• Avoid standing for long hours while handling numerous samples. Shift your weight from one leg to the other by placing a foot on a stool to relieve pressure on the back.
• While using forceps, handle with alternate positions; between the first finger and the thumb, and between the first and the second fingers.
• Every twenty minutes, take a break to rest your muscles and allow the blood to flow back.
• Avoid doing repeated tasks continuously. Change your tasks to change your positions and take a break from working monotonously. Changing positions increases the circulation of blood.
• Use pipettes with thumb dispensers and finger aspirators to reduce the pain on the thumbs.

Conclusion

In a laboratory, a repetitive pattern of work occurs daily. The pain and monotonous repetitive tasks can be avoided by utilising proper tools and a well-designed laboratory that fulfills all requirements. It will help the workers to avoid unnecessary strain on their shoulders, neck, and upper limbs. Proper training may help them handle repetitive tasks efficiently.

It is the responsibility of the laboratory personnel to understand their assignments and work effectively.