Laboratory Hoods
Working in Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC's) or fume hoods requires laboratory personnel to assume a variety of awkward postures due to limited work access, which restrict arm movement, and therefore significantly increase the amount of stress on joints of the upper limbs, neck, and back.
Associated Risk Factors:
- Repetitive motions of the hands, wrist, and forearms, especially when pipetting is involved
- Constrained knee and leg space, especially in fume hoods and older BSCs
- Contact pressure on the forearms, wrists and knees, or legs
- Awkward and static posture of the neck, torso, legs, arms and wrists
- Constrained body position, overloading muscles, tendons, and joints in asymmetrical manner
- Working with elbows winged
- Overreaching
- Prolonged standing in unnatural positions or in restricted postures
Preventive Measures:
- Avoid contact pressure (forearm and wrists contact with sharp edges).
- Reduce eyestrain and awkward posture by keeping viewing window of hood/BSC clean, and line of sight unobstructed.
- Raise cabinet couple inches upward to create a more conformable leg and thigh clearance.
- Purchase only ergonomically designed equipment and furniture.
- Position materials in laboratory hoods/BSCs as close as possible to avoid extended reaching. Perform work at least 6" back into the laboratory hood for safety reasons.
- Use a fully adjustable ergo-task chair or stool with built-in solid footrest. Apply foam padding to the front edge of the hood/BSC (away from the downdraft) to reduce contact forces with the forearm and wrists.
- Use an anti-fatigue mat if you will be standing for long periods of time while working in hoods/BSCs.
- Make sure that lights in hoods/BSCs are working properly. Call 1-3311 for replacement of bulbs.
- Use proper sitting posture and positioning.
- Take short breaks to relieve forearm and wrist pressure caused by leaning on front edge of hoods/BSCs.
- Use an ergonomically designed footrest if you will be working for long periods in a BSC.
