Work ergonomics and risk factors: Are laboratory professionals at risk?

Year 2024, Volume: 12 Issue: 3, 111 - 122, 12.09.2024

Güleser Güney Yılmaz , Elif Aydın , Duygu Perçin Renders

https://doi.org/10.30720/ered.1421877

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to examine in detail the ergonomic risk factors among laboratory professionals in physical, psychological and individual terms. Material and Methods: 60 participants included the study. Demographic form, Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ), in which personal factors were examined for individuals who agreed to be included in the research; Work Stress Scale (WSS) and Beck Depression scale were evaluated with online forms prepared by Google Forms to evaluate psychosocial risk factors. REBA was used to determine the physical risk factors during the study and RULA Employee Assessment was used to evaluate the risk factors related to the upper extremity. Results: When the ergonomic risk factors were compared, a statistically significant difference was found between REBA, RULA, OBQ and WSS scores (p<0.05). Discussion: Microbiology laboratory and pathology laboratory professionals are in the highest risk group in terms of both whole-body score and upper extremity. Biochemistry laboratory professionals, on the other hand, are in the category of moderately severe risk, especially since they are in a standing position for a long-time during device use.

Keywords

ergonomics, laboratory personnel, risk factors

Çalışma Ergonomisi ve Risk Faktörleri: Laboratuvar Profesyonelleri Risk Altında mı?

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma, laboratuvar çalışanları arasında fiziksel, psikolojik ve bireysel açılardan ergonomik risk faktörlerini detaylı bir şekilde incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Materyal ve Yöntemler: Çalışmaya 60 katılımcı dahil edildi. Araştırmaya dahil olmayı kabul eden bireyler için kişisel faktörlerin incelendiği Aktivite Rol Dengesi Anketi (OBQ11-T); psikososyal risk faktörlerini değerlendirmek için çevrim içi olarak hazırlanan Google Forms formları ile İş Stresi Ölçeği (İSÖ) ve Beck Depresyon Ölçeği değerlendirildi. Fiziksel risk faktörlerini belirlemek için çalışma sırasında REBA kullanıldı ve üst ekstremite ile ilgili risk faktörlerini değerlendirmek için RULA Çalışan Değerlendirmesi kullanıldı. Bulgular: Ergonomik risk faktörleri karşılaştırıldığında, REBA, RULA, OBQ ve İSÖ skorları arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark bulundu (p<0,05). Tartışma: Mikrobiyoloji ve patoloji laboratuvarı çalışanları, hem tüm vücut skoru hem de üst ekstremite açısından en yüksek risk grubunda bulunmaktadır. Biyokimya laboratuvarı çalışanları ise özellikle cihaz kullanımı sırasında uzun süre ayakta olduklarından dolayı orta derecede ciddi risk kategorisindedir.

Keywords

ergonomi, laboratuvar personeli, risk faktörleri

Ethical Statement

The study was approved by the local institutional ethical board (Kütahya Health Sciences University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee, (registration number 2022/12-02) and conducted in consideration of Helsinki’s Declaration principles.

Supporting Institution

Not applicable

Thanks

We thank all physicians and laboratory staff who participated in the study.

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