Minimizing RSI in the Laboratory

UC San Francisco ergonomists Melissa Afterman and Meg Honan have written a new white paper on minimizing Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) in the Laboratory. In this paper they demonstrate how organizations that take a more comprehensive approach to employee well-being improve not only safety and performance, but their bottom line.

It is well known by people who work in or around labs that the repetitive physical exertions commonly associated with lab work – such as pipetting – can be major contributors to workplace fatigue and injury. Many organizations approach employee health and safety by responding to incidents of pain or discomfort. But as Afterman and Honan demonstrate, organizations that proactively approach employee well-being by considering the needs of the "whole human" and their laboratory environment can increase productivity and lower costs.

This white paper is written for anyone affected by RSI – employees, managers and health and safety professionals. It covers:

• Helpful laboratory tools and best practices
• Calculating your ROI
• Overlooked risk factors and how to address them