Department of Biology
Musculoskeletal Injuries
Musculoskeletal injuries cover any injury, damage or disorder of the joints or other tissues in the upper / lower limbs or the back. Departmental activities most likely to cause such injuries include:
- sedentary work associated with being seated for long periods of time (e.g. sat at a computer workstation)
- manual handling activities (lifting, lowering, carrying, pushing and pulling) account for nearly one in four reported injuries each year, according to the Health and Safety Executive.
These activities are most likely to cause:
- ‘upper limb disorders’ (ULD), affecting the arms (from shoulder to fingers) and the neck
- back pain
Risk of developing musculoskeletal injuries can be minimised by:
Office Work
- assessing your workstation to ensure it is set up correctly
- following ‘good practices for computer users’ and related ‘top tips for staying healthy at work’
Manual Handling Activities
- ensure all routine manual handling activities are risk assessed
- review risk assessments at least annually to ensure risks remain well managed / consider any necessary improvements
- ensure workers have received appropriate manual handling training
- automating doors associated with heavy traffic involving the transport of materials
Lab Activities
- use automated pipettes to reduce risk of injury during repetitive pipetting tasks
- ensure ergonomic issues are considered when purchasing equipment (e.g. safety cabinets and associated seating) that can cause musculoskeletal injuries if the workstation cannot be easily adapted for individual workers