Ergonomic Hazards of Being in the Medical Field

This article is the third part of a multi-part series of hazards within the medical field. Catch up on parts one and two.

Companies involved in products and services related to health and medical care are represented in the healthcare industry and further categorized under six primary sectors. These industries include pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, equipment, distribution, facilities, and managed health care.

Medical professionals suffer some of the highest work-related injury rates of all employees. To reduce injuries, caregiving institutions provide special equipment to assist employees with patient care. While these tools help, employees ultimately create a safe work environment.

Ergonomics is the “science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the working population,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is essential in caregiving, where many patients rely on staff members for mobility.

Ergonomic exposures in the medical field include excessive force, constrained postures, repetitive motion, and vibration. The exposures are often compounded because patients may be moving, resisting, or physically or mentally unstable. 

Risks may also increase due to time constraints and inadequate staffing resources. Many hospital workers are exposed to prolonged sitting or standing, such as employees working in nursing, surgery, imaging, dietary, laundry, laboratory, pharmacy, dentistry, administrative, and maintenance areas. 

Sitting or standing in a static posture can be more stressful on the musculoskeletal system than dynamic movements.

The following article breaks down the various ergonomic hazards in the medical field.

Computer Workstations

Healthcare workers conduct computer work in patients’ rooms, bedsides, corridors, offices, and other patient care areas. And workers who use computers for extended periods may experience discomfort or pain due to poor posture, improper adjustment, the use of workstation components, or other factors. 

In most cases, hospitals can employ relatively simple and inexpensive corrective measures to reduce the likelihood of discomfort or injury. For example, workstations for physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals should adjust for height and pitch/tilt. The pitch/tilt is necessary for keyboard and pointing device use. 

Additionally, workers should use sit/stand workstations and adjustable and well-padded chairs. Armrests are optional and depend on the computer user’s preference. Experts recommend waterfall seats on the chair's seat pan to reduce mechanical compression behind the thighs.

Laboratory

Ergonomic hazards in laboratory settings include repeating or performing the same motion over and over and awkward body postures. Awkward body posture is the sustained holding of a bent neck, back, hands/wrists, arms raised above shoulder level, or arms extended out in front of the body. 

To avoid awkward postures, commonly used laboratory equipment or objects should be as close to the healthcare worker as possible. 

If sitting, there must be leg room under the work surface. These controls, plus a chair with appropriate back support that is fully adjustable and well-padded, will ensure that workers sit in good posture without bending the neck forward or too far down or up. 

Workers can alternate between sitting and standing if the work surface is adjustable. Footrests may be necessary for petite individuals or non-adjustable workspaces to support feet, while armrest supports on the chair are helpful for tasks such as microscopy and working at a bench or hood. 

Patient Handling

Patient handling involves lifting and moving patients, which puts healthcare workers at risk for musculoskeletal injuries. Therefore, hospitals look to use mechanical equipment and safety procedures to avoid manual exertions and reduce their risk of injury. 

Occupational safety and health programs have fostered research to identify injury risk factors and safety interventions to prevent injuries during patient handling. At the same time, patient handling ergonomics seeks to maximize the safety and comfort of patients during handling. 

Devices for patient transfers from one surface to another include various mechanical lifting devices, such as total lifts, sit/stand lifts, stand aids, and adjustable height beds and baths. 

Additionally, experts recommend slide sheets, especially those with handles, when moving patients up in bed or transferring them to another surface at the same height. And when rolling the patient from one side to another, workers should use a friction-reducing device. 

Radiology

Interventional radiologists are exposed to risks of work-related musculoskeletal disorders due to the lack of ergonomic principles developed, potentially affecting their livelihoods, quality of life, and productivity.

Additionally, the inappropriate design of work environments and PPE promotes non-neutral and inefficient postures and movement. Studies have found an association between wearing PPE and spinal conditions. And workers have documented lower extremity conditions due to wearing heavy and awkward PPEs.

Therefore, experts recommend separate task up-lights, monitor hoods, neutral-colored surfaces, partitions to separate individual workstations, and three rather than four monitors for PACS to avoid neck strain. 

Workers should use a video display next to the X-ray control panel to prevent awkward postures. And a wall-mounted film holder can label the film to avoid holding the film in an awkward posture while applying the label. 

And overhead X-ray machines should be moved to chest level to avoid reaching and reduce non-neutral postures at the shoulders. The use of heavy aprons should also be eliminated and replaced with garments with waistbands that are better for distributing a load. 

Slips, Trips, and Falls

Facility design and renovation can help prevent the risk of slip, trip, and fall injuries among healthcare workers. 

Floors

Each floor surface requires different flooring types and friction coefficients. Higher coefficients of friction have better slip-resistance properties. Steps should have high friction coefficients, and non-slip mats should be used in areas where floors are continually wet or greasy.

Stairways and ramps

Stairways require handrails, slip-resistant coating for steps, high visibility, non-slip markings for the edges of steps, and adequate illumination. Ramps should be well-marked with appropriate signage for visibility.

Cables and cords

Cables and electric cords represent trip hazards. Therefore, covering cords on floors with beveled protective covers is vital. Cables and cords should also not be in areas where people walk and never be placed across walkways. 

Lighting

Natural light is preferred when possible and artificial light must provide adequate illumination. Experts recommend minimum illuminance levels for safety in non-patient care areas and horizontal illuminance levels of 500 lux or more in patient care areas. 

Spills

Install wall-mounted spill pads and paper towel holders to clean up contaminants and ensure easy access to cleaning materials should be in areas with frequent spills. Workers should also use spill-absorbent products and compounds to maximize the effectiveness of the clean-up. 

Cleaning

Hospitals should use specially formulated cleaning products for commercial and industrial food service areas that are biodegradable and can be used with hot or cold water.

Entrance and Grounds

Provide water-absorbent walk-off mats at the hospital entrance, as well as adequate lighting in outside level areas, parking garages, and outdoor stairwells. Additionally, visual cues highlighting curb or walkway elevation changes with yellow paint are essential.