Ergonomists have suggested that everyone work within a so-called “comfort zone”. This is a semi-circle that your arms make as you reach out. Things that you use on a regular basis should ideally be within easy reach with your full arm. Things that you use frequently and repetitively should be within easy reach of your forearms. Much of the time, problems with reach are simply matters of rearranging your work area and moving things closer to you. Often it is a matter of habit — you are unaware that you…

Force, simply defined, is the energy required to accomplish a task. Exertion, on the other hand, is the effort the individual needs to expend to accomplish the task. Although the force needed for a task may remain constant, exertion can vary based upon several factors such as posture (positioning of the body while performing a task), repetition (the number of sequential times the task needs to be performed) , and the environment in which a task is performed (such as in a hood or other protected area). For example, the…

Ergonomic injuries are widely recognized as a major factor in work place health. About one-third of all occupational injuries and illnesses stem from over exertion and/or repetitive motion. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), according to the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), results in more days on average away from work than any other workplace injury. The median number of days away from work for CTS is 25 days, compared to 17 days for fractures, and 20 days for amputations. Workers with severe injuries can face permanent…

Proper posture is the most important element in establishing good ergonomic work practices. During repetitive tasks such as pipetting, maintaining body positions that provide a maximum of strength with the least amount of muscular stress is important to minimize the risk of injury. A number of common pipetting techniques have been identified as potentially hazardous due to biomechanical stress factors. Graphic representations and the recommendations for corrective actions, made by various US governmental agencies and ergonomics experts, are presented below. Technique: elevated, “winged elbow”. The average human arm weighs approximately…