Source: Stanford UniversityDue to the sheer amount of pipetting that goes on commonly in a lab on a day-to-day basis, it can be easy to forget that this repetitive process may cause problematic ergonomic issues.
Stanford University’s EH&S, Industrial Hygiene/Safety Program recommends a few things that you can do to assure good ergonomics while pipetting in the lab. Here are some of their key insights from the “Laboratory Ergonomics Tips” document to keep in mind while pipetting:
- Keep wrists straight and elbows close to the body.
- Share workload between right and left hands.
- Keep waste bins, beakers, etc. as close as possible.
- Share pipetting responsibilities with others to reduce strain.
- Take some breaks – at least every 15-30 minutes.
- Alternate activities.
The next time you find yourself trying to assure the quality of your sample, take some time to remember to take care of yourself in the process. For further tips on maintaining proper ergonomics in the lab check out more from Stanford University here.
