Upper limb disorders among biomedical laboratory workers using pipettes

Abstract

Laboratory workers engaged with biomedical work often process series of specimens by repetitive or static manual activities. The widespread use of stamp pipettes has in particular been suspected to entail upper-limb disorders. Our primary aim was to test, if cumulated pipette work is associated with self-reported and clinically examined upper-limb disorders. Additionally we explored, if non-pipette repetitive or static laboratory tasks are associated with upper-limb complaints. We also explored, if use of electrically driven pipettes (reducing the forces needed to activate the pipette) are in lesser degree associated with upper limb complaints than manually driven pipettes. In all, 1,398 female laboratory technicians at two workplaces were included in a questionnaire survey. Among 1,202 respondents, 167 cases with significant upper-limb symptoms and 134 controls without participated in a case-control study. Amount of pipette work (especially when cumulated over the last 2 years) was associated with symptoms in dominant upper limb, especially in the hand/wrist and thumb, and with impingement syndrome and muscle pain in dominant shoulder. Use of electrical pipettes did not modify this association. The non-pipette tasks were at highest vaguely related to upper-limb symptoms. In biomedical laboratory work, intensive pipette use seems to constitute a dominating major ergonomic problem.

Keywords:

• industrial ergonomics
• anatomy
• health risks
• musculoskeletal disorders
• upper limb disorders

Public Interest Statement

In medical and pharmaceutical laboratories, several tasks involve static postures and repetitive manual movements. This might trigger disorders in the upper limbs (the hands, arms and shoulders). A prominent example is the frequent use of pipettes in laboratories. Pipettes are hand-held instruments used to suck up and dispense small amounts of liquids.

In order to investigate, if frequent pipette use increases the risk of pain and disorders in the upper limbs, we examined laboratory workers at two large workplaces (a medical and a pharmaceutical).

Indeed, laboratory workers with frequent pipette use more often had pain and disorders in the arm handling the pipette than workers with less (or no) pipette use.

To deal with this ergonomic problem in laboratories, an important measure is to reduce the pipette work for the individual laboratory worker when planning the flow of work. In this respect, one should also consider introduction of robotic technology.

Competing Interests

The authors declare no competing interest.

Acknowledgements

First, we wish to express our gratitude to statistician Poul Suadicani, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg, for steady support during the project. We also wish to thank our collaborators at Novo Nordisk and Statens Serum Institute. Finally, we thank the Research Division of Clinical Biochemistry, University Hospital Køge, for kindly being at disposal for photographing.

Practitioner summary

Biomedical laboratory workers frequently perform repetitive or static activities. In a cross-sectional case–control study, cumulated amount of pipette work was associated with symptoms in dominant upper limb, and impingement syndrome and muscle pain in dominant shoulder. Intensive pipette use seems to constitute a major ergonomic problem in biomedical laboratories.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jonas Winkel Holm

Jonas Winkel Holm is a medical doctor at Department of Occupational Medicine, University Hospital Holbæk. His research interests are occupational musculoskeletal disorders, primarily focusing on the relation between repetitive and physically demanding work and, on the other side, neck and upper limb disorders. Apart from studies in different occupational settings, the author has also been engaged in a twin study.