The evolution of technology in the lab demands ongoing care and maintenance, but that can sometimes overshadow the needs of supporting the performance of the most important asset—the people. This starts with ergonomics. MerriamWebster online defines ergonomics as: “an applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely.” That makes ergonomics pretty easy to define, but it’s more challenging to implement it.
When asked what ergonomic features matter the most, Sarah Platt Cooney, ergonomic program coordinator for the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), says, “Reduce postural distance—don’t reach, bend, extend.” As examples, she mentions bending forward or down to use a microscope, keeping a chair too far away from a bench, which causes leaning, and reaching too far when pipetting.
Second, Cooney says, “Reduce repetitive forces.” She adds, “This might mean using multichannel pipettes, or selecting the lowest-force single-channel pipettes available.”
The key is consistency. “It is important that ergonomic features and solutions are being used regularly,” says Tona Bronson, LEAN manufacturing specialist, GE Healthcare Life Sciences (Logan, UT). “They should be easy to use and integrated into the overall process, so that they would become a long-lasting solution.” She adds, “It should not be an effort to continue using them.”
Easy improvements
In many cases, scientists can improve the ergonomics of a lab with small fixes. “Adjust your tools to fit you before you begin,” Cooney encourages. “Make adjustments to the lab stool, including the foot ring to allow for leg and foot support and seat height for use at the taller lab bench.” She adds, “Move items closer to you if needed.”
Adding variety also helps. “Vary your tasks to reduce repeating the same body motions whenever possible,” Cooney says. “If this is not possible, be sure to take some breaks.” As she adds, “Two minutes every hour is enough to make a big difference to reduce muscular fatigue.”
In some cases, better ergonomics are just a stretch away. “One of the best ergonomic improvements for GE Healthcare Life Sciences’ cell culture production site in Logan, Utah, was incorporating stretching exercises that have been researched and developed for each area into the pre-shift standup,” says Bronson. “Employees are encouraged to do these stretches in the middle of the day, when they come back from lunch, and before they go home.” Plus, the company places posters of these stretches in each standup area.
Design details
When designing a new lab, even more ergonomic features can be considered. At the top of her list, Cooney recommends adjustability. “The more adjustable, the more individuals the work area will fit,” she says. “For example, consider lab stools that have a two-stage cylinder that will lower to standard desk height, but also raise to allow sitting at lab bench height.”
In thinking about how things work together in a lab and accommodate the personnel, “never design for the average, as that would fit only 33% of the population—think Bell curve,” Cooney explains. “Design reach for the 5% female—short distances—and access for the 95% male—maximum leg room.”
So, work spaces should always include wiggle room for a scientist’s legs. “Frequently, barriers to access increase postural distances as knees bump against under-bench drawers or cabinets,” Cooney says. “Glove-box access should also allow under-surface clearances.”
Moreover, adding some automation can reduce injuries, especially ones caused by repetitive motion. “Consider mechanization whenever possible to reduce repetition, especially in areas where other ergonomic risks cannot be avoided, such as within gloveboxes,” Cooney says. “Pipetting robots are now cost-effective and customizable.”
Getting a new lab design as ergonomic as possible depends on experimentation. “When designing a new laboratory space, [consider] trystorming—a combination of brainstorming melded with rapid prototyping—the layout produces a real-life visual of what will and will not work in the allotted space,” Bronson explains. “This allows for the most frequently used items to be placed at the point of use.” She adds, “Design should also include ergonomic equipment that addresses the needs of employees in the area, such as adjustable tables and chairs, sit/stand desks, floor mats, lift carts, and so on.”
Take care in choosing a chair
No matter what kind of work a lab performs, most people will spend a large amount of time in a desk chair. As a full-time writer and editor for more than 25 years, I know something about desks chairs. I’ve tried a wide range of options, including some things outside the typical scope, including knee chairs and even an exercise ball as a seat. I’ve also purchased many seemingly great desk chairs from big-box office stores. On top of all of that, I’ve tried full-time standup desks, too.
Based on my experience, I strongly endorse two suggestions: First, spend the money that it takes to get a very high-quality chair, and it will probably cost more than you think; and second, stand up at regular intervals. Specifically, I bought a Herman Miller Aeron about six years ago, and it’s been worth every penny. Also, I set a timer for 55 minutes, and when it goes off, I get up for 5–15 minutes, which is just as good for your brain as it is for your body.
So, to get the most from your workspace as comfortably as possible, buy ergonomic equipment, adjust it, and add variety. A lab’s efficiency and the well-being of researchers will depend on following some ergonomic guidelines.
Mike May is a freelance writer and editor living in Texas. He can be reached at [email protected].