Why ergonomics in the laboratory should be a priority

Sitting or standing for long periods of time, working with small instruments or many repetitive actions: working in the laboratory places high physical demands. The risks vary from general back, neck and shoulder complaints to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). Arnoud Huisman, a consultant at Poly Temp Scientific, says that ergonomic working is often neglected in laboratories.

 By: Eline te Velde

With fifteen years of experience in ergonomics, Huisman has seen many different workplaces: “When I enter a laboratory, I always go from amazement to amazement. I see lab technicians working on a lab cabinet and then they balance their laptop for data entry on a waste bin.” Huisman sees that an ergonomic work situation in the laboratory is often not a priority: “Labs are usually small spaces, tucked away somewhere. It gets completely crammed with equipment and then they discover that someone else has to work there too.”

“Labs are usually small spaces, tucked away somewhere. It gets completely filled with equipment and then they find out that someone has to work there too.”

Productivity and job satisfaction

Such work situations cause health problems for employees. Think of headaches, neck and back complaints or RSI. But in addition to health risks, the workplace can also affect productivity and job satisfaction. “Towards the end of the year, employers always say in a speech that employees are the most important, their greatest asset. But then I see that they do almost nothing to optimize the workplaces. They always refer to budget, but that is nonsense. An optimal workplace costs no more than a few hundred euros and you will benefit from that for fifteen to twenty years,” says Huisman.

Reduced concentration leads to mistakes and a balanced laptop can fall. These mistakes and accidents usually cost more than improving the workplace. According to Huisman, budget should never be a reason not to set up workplaces ergonomically: “Lab equipment is incredibly expensive. Tens of thousands of euros are easily spent on it and the costs for an ergonomic solution are relatively low. It is actually strange that you make such a large investment and then do not ensure that it is used optimally.”

No holy grail

Huisman emphasizes the importance of a flexible workplace: “The equipment is fixed, but it is not the case that only one person works on it, the workplace is often switched. A workplace is very personal and there is no holy grail. Therefore, use flexible monitor arms, height-adjustable carts and sit-stand places. Also make sure that the surfaces are empty or tidy. This way there is space to work.” 

 Automation is a solution for many repetitive actions. Employees are then protected from physical strain and repetitive movements. In addition to an automated pipetting system, a robot can take over repetitive actions. “I am currently looking into a laboratory of Defence, where they are going to use a robot to open jars. That is still quite complicated, because not all jars are the same size. But this is a good solution to prevent health risks.”

 Poly Temp Scientific presents various solutions for ergonomic working during LabNL. Sign In for a free visit to the trade fair and visit the Poly Temp Scientific stand (7A089) or contact us directly for a no-obligation workplacecan.

Ergotron solution for the 
ergonomic placement of a 
laptop to a flow cabinet