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Ergonomics and the lab workstation:Part Three

Lab Safety Advisor, June 6, 2006

Ergonomics and the lab workstation:Part Three
Part three of a three-part series

Due to lack of space in the laboratory, many laboratory workers must store equipment and supplies on overhead shelves. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recognizes this as a risk factor for ergonomically related disorders. The CDC offers these tips for controlling ergonomic hazards associated with overhead lifting:

• Store heavy objects on shelves below shoulder height whenever possible.
• Use a stable footstool or stepladder to reach objects that are stored on shelves.
• Avoid asymmetric lifting (twisting while lifting). The object to be lifted should be directly in front of the employee.
• Store materials that are used frequently on shelving units that are below shoulder height.
• Use rotating carousels to store material close to the employee. This reduces excessive reaching for objects.

Each year, back strain and pain account for 100 million days of lost work and billions of dollars in lost wages and workers' compensation claims. Back injuries are second only to the common cold for lost time on the job. Many injuries could be avoided if only employees were aware of how to protect their backs. The spine is not perfectly straight. It has three curves: One at the neck, one at the middle of the back, and one at the lower back. Keeping these three curves in their natural alignment is the key to keeping the back healthy. Back injuries occur often as a result of years of abusing the back until it is so weak and stressed that one wrong move will finally cause something to snap. Causes of back injuries include incorrect lifting, consistently poor posture, and twisting or overreaching.

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