Keeping lab personnel comfortable and as injury-free as possible can save money in many ways

Scientists and technicians—maybe the latter most of all—can spend hours and hours repeating the same movement from the same position. If the ergonomic setup isn’t optimized, pain and stiffness can turn into injuries. This makes it uncomfortable for lab personnel and might even prevent them from doing their jobs. All of this reduces lab performance and can even drive up insurance premiums.

“A lab manager should know ergonomics definitely has an impact on employee injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, or musculoskeletal disorders, like a stiff neck,” says Michael Barry, head of media and public affairs at the Insurance Information Institute (New York, NY). Those injuries often turn into insurance claims.

“Injuries may result in insurance claims, such as a workers’ compensation claim,” says Ellen Gallo—executive consultant, workers comp and ergonomics technical manager at The Hartford (Hartford, CT). And these injuries can arise from many lab procedures. “Some examples include extended microscope use and extensive pipetting,” Gallo notes. “With extended microscope use, for example, holding static postures for a long period can inhibit blood flow and lead to back and upper extremity stress from the lack of movement in a fixed position.” She continues, “That is compounded when awkward neck postures are added to the mix when the microscope lens is too high or too low.”

Keep people comfortable

With so many lab processes involving replicates that lead to extensive repetition, a lab manager must always keep ergonomics in mind. Many processes, done often enough, can go beyond just uncomfortable.

“One example is musculoskeletal disorders caused by the cumulative effective of stress on the muscles, joints, and tendons,” Gallo explains. “Since ergonomic-type injuries are about 50% of all injuries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, taking proactive steps to keep the lab worker healthy pays off in fewer injuries but can also reduce absenteeism and turnover.”

Sometimes, improved equipment is needed. With large amounts of pipetting, for example, using one finger can create injuries in that digit, as well as the hand and wrist. “Newer manual pipettes have triggers that allow two or more fingers to activate the trigger, reducing the individual finger forces by 50 to 67%,” Gallo says.

Lab managers can also run training sessions. So, instead of buying new equipment, new behaviors can help, too. “Taking preventative measures, such as teaching employees to avoid awkward and static postures, can help improve insurance rates by reducing the number of injuries,” Gallo points out. “Having preventative programs in place that can help decrease the number of injuries that occur can help save money in the long run.”

Providing options in a lab is also useful. “To help reduce injuries, provide both sitting and standing capabilities,” Gallo says. “This aids blood circulation throughout the spine and out to the extremities, keeping these structures healthy.” To add standing or sitting, a lab work bench should be about 40 inches tall. That also takes a special stool, which Gallo says “should have five legs for stability, plus back support and adjustability.”

Importantly, a lab manager should always encourage this: Move! As Gallo says, “The greatest impact is to move around frequently and not sit or stand for hours in the same position.”

Keep policies in place

In addition to creating the most ergonomic environment possible, a lab must keep personnel insured in case of an injury. That means purchasing the right policy.

“These injuries may be covered under an organization’s workers’ compensation insurance policy, if it was deemed to be a workplace-caused injury,” Barry explains. “Group disability insurance policies and employer-sponsored health insurance policies may also come into play, if the employee’s injury or impairment cannot be traced directly to their on-the-job duties.”

To some extent, improving ergonomics and reducing insurance costs just take paying attention. Barry points out that a 2016 study by Aon Risk Solutions (London, U.K.), one of the world’s leading insurance brokers, found that 27% of the companies polled didn’t have anyone in charge of workplace ergonomics. According to Barry, “An insurer is going to look favorably on a lab manager who proactively looks at this issue.

By keeping lab personnel comfortable, everyone benefits. I’d tell you more about this, but I’ve been sitting too long. I’ve got to get moving!

Mike May is a freelance writer and editor living in Texas. He can be reached at [email protected]