Repetitive manual tasks are common in most laboratories and, as a result, there is an increased risk of repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Such injuries are a major concern for managers and employees alike.
Image Credit: INTEGRA Biosciences
This article discusses the critical role of professional guidance and ergonomic solutions in preventing personal injury in the workplace, as well as their contribution to a healthy workforce and reduced employer liability.
The cost of RSIs
RSIs sustained or exacerbated at work impact approximately 400,000 people in Great Britain alone and result in a loss of four million working days a year.1 RSIs not only have a negative impact on the individual, who may require time away from work, but also on businesses that suffer productivity and profitability losses and can also incur liability case costs. It is estimated that MSDs cost Great Britain £2.3 billion every year, demonstrating the pressing need to address the cause of MSDs, particularly those related to work.2
Several activities can lead to RSIs, such as the overuse of ligaments, tendons, and soft tissues, resulting in common conditions such as tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, and tenosynovitis. Scientists and researchers in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, clinical, and academic fields are all confronted with a common pattern of workplace-associated risk factors, and pipetting is a major contributor to this. This is due to its continuous, repetitive nature and the adoption of awkward postures by some individuals. Research suggests that over 300 hours of pipetting per year, a figure corresponding to one or two hours a day – which is not uncommon in many laboratories and often accompanied by hours of sitting at a desk or a workbench – significantly increases the risk of developing MSDs.3
RSIs are preventable but may not be curable once reaching an advanced stage. As a result, MSDs often become worse over time, sometimes culminating in a long-term disability. Even when the damage is reversible, and an individual is receiving proper medical care and adequate rest, it can take a long time to recover from a severe RSI, and the risk of reoccurrence is high. This clearly highlights the importance of training laboratory users to best perform their tasks to prevent potential injuries. The correct use of equipment designed with ergonomics and usability in mind is also necessary to reduce the force and repetition required to carry out routine operations. In the case of pipetting, automated liquid handling is becoming more widespread, reducing the time spent by laboratory users on repetitive manual techniques.
Tips for preventing injuries when pipetting
In some cases, automation is not an option; however, several simple strategies can be followed to prevent poor posture and the need for excessive manual force during pipetting. These include regular breaks from sitting to stretch and walk around, keeping laboratory equipment close to avoid overstretching, and maintaining proper posture (head over the shoulders, shoulders aligned with the hips).
Pipettes with low plunger force, finger hooks, short stroke distance, and easy volume changes, such as EVOLVE pipettes from INTEGRA Biosciences, minimize the manual force required. Pipettes should be held in a comfortable manner with neutral wrists, and pipette tips that require minimal attachment and ejection forces are preferable.
While such practices are straightforward to implement, standards can easily slip when performing repetitive tasks. Employees should be encouraged to undertake appropriate training and adhere to the recommendations, as this will help to reduce the risk of RSIs and MSDs as a result of pipetting.
Promoting workplace health and safety
It is a legal requirement for employers to formally evaluate RSI risk with Risk Assessment Tests, according to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.4 Working alongside partners that value ergonomics can help to meet these obligations.
iHEALTH 360 is one such organization that helps employers to overcome ergonomic and safety challenges, ensuring employee health ‘from hire to retire.’ As a woman- and minority-owned enterprise, iHEALTH 360 has established itself as a leader in workplace health and safety, helping employers hire more effectively, avoid workplace injuries and get injured employees back to work safely and efficiently.
iHEALTH 360 recommends automated liquid handling solutions that use automation to replace manual tasks and eliminate extended periods of sitting and pipetting, such as INTEGRA’s pipetting robots. INTEGRA also offers manual pipetting products with excellent ergonomics and ease of use, featuring quick-set dials for fast volume adjustment, balanced weight distribution, ergonomic grips contoured to the human hand, easy tip ejection and low pipetting forces.
Conclusions
RSIs and MSDs are not always regarded as occupational hazards in the laboratory, but their impact must not be underestimated. Repetitive motions, awkward posture, and using excessive manual force can cause significant, lifelong injuries. However, such injuries are preventable. The application of ergonomic principles and the use of specially designed instruments can help eliminate risk behaviors and reduce the number of incidences of RSIs and MSDs. By investing in employee health and creating a more comfortable working environment, labs can reap long-term benefits for their businesses, enabling company growth and improving staff satisfaction and retention.
Acknowledgments
Produced from materials originally authored by LaNiesha Littleton from iHEALTH 360.
References and further reading
- London Pain Clinic. Repetitive strain injury and computer users. Available at: https://www.londonpainclinic.com/conditions/repetitive-strain-injury-and-computer-users/ (Accessed on 5 June 2024).
- Health and Safety Executive. (2022). Supplementary analysis of costs to Britain data: using existing ill health appraisal values to estimate illustrative costs of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and stress. Available at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/cost.htm (Accessed on 5 June 2024).
- Björksten, M. G., Almby, B., Jansson, E. S. (1994). Hand and shoulder ailments among laboratory technicians using modern plunger-operated pipettes. Appl Ergon, 25(2), pp.88–94.
- European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. (2008). Factsheet 80 - Risk assessment — roles and responsibilities. Available at: https://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/factsheet-80-risk-assessment-roles-and-responsibilities
About INTEGRA Biosciences
INTEGRA provides innovative solutions for liquid handling and media preparation applications that serve the needs of its customers in research, diagnostics, and quality control laboratories.
Its instruments and plastic consumables are developed and manufactured in Zizers, Switzerland, and Hudson, NH, USA. In order to remain close to its customers, it maintains a direct sales and support organization in several North American, European, and Asian countries, as well as a network of over 100 highly trained distribution partners worldwide.
In recent years, the company has focused on developing a new and technologically advanced range of lab devices that are simple to use and meet the ergonomic needs of its customers.
Today, the company is proud to offer the widest range of electronic pipettes in the market, spanning from single channel pipettes up to 384 channel bench-top instruments.
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