Pipetting
This laboratory procedure is highly repetitive and involves a variety of risk factors. Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTD) or MSDs may occur when a laboratory worker pipettes for two hours a day or longer on a continuous basis.
Associated Risk Factors:
- Repetitive motion of the hands, forearm and thumb, or fingers
- Pinch grip when handling pipette tips, or opening vials
- Bending and twisting of the wrist
- Working with "winged" elbows (elbow held at an elevated position away from the body)
- Neck bent forward or to the side and/or jutted chin
- Awkward and static postures
- Excessive force of the thumb
- Overreaching
- Standing for long periods of time
Preventive Measures:
Work Smart, eliminate/reduce the impact of laboratory ergonomic stressors.
- Perform your work only at appropriate heights.
- Reduce shoulder strain; avoid working with winged elbows/arms.
- Use short pipettes, shorter waste receptacles for used tips, to reduce reaching.
- Avoid standing for long periods. If standing is unavoidable, use Anti-Fatigue Mats.
- Work at appropriate heights to minimize twisting of the neck and torso.
- Make sure head and shoulders are kept in neutral position.
- Avoid elevating arms and elbows above shoulder for lengthy periods to prevent static work of arm, and shoulder strain
- Purchase an electronic operated or a latch-mode pipette to replace manual plunger-operated pipettes. Both of these units reduce the need for excessive thumb force and repetition. Electronic pipettes are strongly recommended for highly repetitive tasks.
- Use thin-walled pipette tips that are easy to eject.
- Limit periods of continuous pipetting to 20 minutes or less. Vary activities, or take frequent short breaks (e.g., 2 minutes for every 20 minutes of pipetting).
- Rotate pipetting tasks among several people.
- Work with arms close to the body to reduce strain on shoulders.
- Keep head and shoulders in a neutral position (bent forward no more than 30 degrees)
- Use adjustable chairs or ergo-task stools with built-in solid footrest.
- Don't elevate your arm without support for lengthy periods.
- Use low profile waste receptacles for used tips. These should be no higher than the top of the tubes being filled.
