A brand new lab is an inviting sight - uniform countertops stretched across long walls, ample cabinet space tucked below, specialized equipment arranged in neat rows, computers standing ready to accept data. But an ergonomist sees it differently, envisioning the possibilities for injury that may await the employees assigned to work there.

All too often, labs are designed to standards that do not match the daily activities that will be performed. This may result in human discomfort and lower productivity, along with the potential for costly workers compensation claims.

Many companies are not in a position to rebuild labs from the ground up. However, by taking advantage of risk management resources provided by leading insurance carriers, for example, steps for improving the work environment can be identified and implemented as well as contribute to a lab's productivity and success.

The Ergonomic Foursome

Understanding the source of ergonomic risks makes it easier to assess possible trouble spots and determine how a lab environment can be improved. While many people link ergonomic injuries with repetitive motion, there are four key elements:

1. Posture - The positions a person's body is forced into to complete a task.
2. Force - The exertion of power to perform tasks-whether it involves flipping a tight vial lid, pushing a stiff pipette plunger, pulling a loaded cart or lifting a heavy box.
3. Frequency - The number of times an action is repeated.
4. Duration - The length of time a posture is maintained.

Using this foursome as a framework, ergonomic risks can be determined for three areas of the body: 1) hand/wrist and elbow; 2) shoulders and neck; and 3) back and legs.

Starting With Design...

A good place to begin an ergonomic assessment of a lab environment is with the design of the lab itself. Most labs are designed to standards that may work well if an average person is standing at a counter to carry out assignments. Labs also tend to have fixed workstation layouts and uniform heights.

If a person wants to sit for certain work tasks, the lab design may not be flexible enough to accommodate them comfortably. For example, the architectural design guidelines for counter heights is typically 34 or 36 inches, but an average female has a seated height of about 26 or 27 inches.

The typical solution, of course, is to use an adjustable chair or stool that can be placed up against the counter's cabinet face. This, however, means that the footrest typically is a metal circle tucked behind the chair's front legs, which, when used, can throw off a person's natural seated posture. A seat without a foot support also leads to poor or awkward posture. A chair with a proper front-placed foot rest, unfortunately, cannot usually be used because a solid wall of cabinets below the countertops leaves no kneehole for sliding a chair into the right position under the counter's edge.

Speaking of edges, countertops in labs are often squared off and too thick for the employees to properly and comfortably fit underneath. Also, because many countertops range from 4 to 6 inches thick, people who work frequently with pipettes tend to rest their forearms against the edge, leading to discomfort that could be avoided if the edges were rounded.

Introducing computers into the lab further highlights possible poor design elements. Even if proper heights for both the monitor and keyboard can be achieved, a person is often required to strain and twist back and forth between the microscope and computer to complete their work.