Stanford University

Laboratory Ergonomics

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Responsibilities

EMPLOYEES
  • Attend training
  • Use recommended work practices and equipment
  • Report discomfort or pain to your supervisor
  • Inform supervisor of and comply with medical treatment recommendations 
SUPERVISORS
  • Evaluate employees’ compliance with safe work practices (with EH&S assistance)
  • Provide necessary support in helping make ergonomic improvements in the lab
  • Report employee injuries to Risk Management (3-7400) and EH&S (5-3209)
  • Accommodate employee work restrictions by doctor 
EH&S
  • Develop, implement, and evaluate the Ergonomics Program
  • Provide Laboratory Ergonomics training and technical assistance with task evaluations
  • Analyze and report trends in ergonomic injuries

How can I protect myself?

Body Positions/Postures

SEATING
  • Feet should rest flat on the floor or a footrest
  • Chair should provide adequate low back and thigh support
  • Front edge of chair should not press up against back of knees
PIPETTING
  • Maintain straight wrists
  • Keep elbows close to body
TEST TUBE HANDLING
  • Maintain straight wrists
  • Work w/ elbows close to body
  • Avoid reaching upward or stooping low
MICROSCOPE USE
  • Maintain straight wrists
  • Avoid tilted head/ neck postures
HAND TOOL USE
  • Maintain straight wrists
  • Avoid pinch gripping tools when possible
GENERAL WORK TIPS
  • Minimize use of awkward body postures

Work Practices/ Processes

SEATING
  • Avoid sitting at the edge of the seat, sit all the way back into the seat to provide back support
  • Get out of chair at least every half hour to help relieve stress on back
  • Before starting work, make sure chair is properly adjusted.
PIPETTING
  • Keep waste bins, beakers, etc., as close as possible
  • Take frequent microbreaks away from pipetting (at least every 15-30 minutes)
  • Share workload between right and left hands
  • Rotate pipetting tasks with other employees as feasible
  • Occasionally alternate activities to avoid continuous pipetting for long periods
TEST TUBE HANDLING
  • Arrange tubes to minimize reaching/ twisting
  • Share workload between right and left hands
  • Take adequate breaks away from handling activity (even short several second “micro-breaks” help
  • Use both hands to open tubes
MICROSCOPE USE
  • Take frequent microbreaks to rest eyes (momentarily close eyes or focus on far away objects to vary focal length)
  • Keep scopes clean and in good condition
  • Spread microscope work throughout the day or rotate microscope work among several employees as feasible
HAND TOOL USE
  • Take occasional microbreaks away from tool use (at least every 15-30 minutes)
  • Share workload between right and left hands
GENERAL WORK TIPS
  • For any continuous/ repetitive task, take frequent microbreaks away from the primary activity
  • Arrange work scheduling to allow occasional alternating of tasks
  • Rotate tasks intermittently between left and right hands to avoid overuse of any one side
  • For highly continuous/ repetitive tasks, consider a rotation of employees to help safely distribute workload
  • Keep waste bins, beakers, etc., as close as possible.

Proper Equipment

SEATING
  • Use a footrest if feet do not reach the floor
  • If back support is not adequate or if the seat pan is too long, try a rolled up towel or a back support cushion to provide support
  • Remove or adjust armrests that hinder work activities
PIPETTING
  • Use shorter pipetters and pipette tips
  • Choose pipetters that require minimal hand and finger effort
  • For highly repetitive jobs, utilize automated processes or multi-channel pipetters where feasible.
  • See seating
TEST TUBE HANDLING
  • Use upside-down containers to raise tube racks when needed
  • Use vortexer mixer rack instead of holding tubes by hand
  • Use cap removers to help minimize pinch gripping
  • To avoid forearms resting on sharp edges, pad edges or use a cushion to pad forearm.
MICROSCOPE USE
  • Raise and stand microscope at a slight tilt to allow a more upright head/neck posture
  • To avoid forearms resting on sharp edges, pad edges or use a cushion to pad forearm.
  • See seating (above)
HAND TOOL USE
  • Choose the right tool for the job
  • Ensure tools are in proper working order
  • Increase size of tool handles where possible to minimize gripping effort
GENERAL WORK TIPS
  • When purchasing equipment, models that adjust in size are preferable
  • Use the proper equipment for the task
  • Know how to properly use the equipment
  • Where feasible, use automated processes to reduce/ eliminate high repetition or forces

Emergency procedures

  • Report any injury or recurring discomfort to your supervisor
  • File forms with Risk Management (SU-17, DWC-1, Cal-OSHA 5020)
  • Contact EH&S to for additional follow-up (5-3209)

Special problems and procedures

Physical and mental exhaution/stress and using the proper equipment correctly as mentioned in “How can I protect myself” will help you avoid mistakes and/or injuries to you or your colleagues.

Reference

Resources 

  • Your supervisor
  • EH&S (5-3209)
  • Risk Management (3-7400) – SU-17, DWC-1, Cal/OSHA 5020 Forms
  • Occupational Health Care Provider (PAMF 853-2970) – Medical evaluation – Treatment, if necessary
  • HIP (3-9649) – Exercise programs (e.g. Healthy Back/ Strong Abs) – STAP funds available for some classes
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