IMPORTANCE OF ERGONOMICS IN VETERINARY CLINICS
What is ergonomics?
Ergonomics is the science and study of work, and the practice of applying data and theory to optimize human well-being as well as the overall performance of the work system. Ergonomics includes much more than the gadgets that many associate with the term, or keeping a “good posture” while you work.
Ergonomics includes the entire interplay of the work environment, worker, task, and performance. Ergonomics takes into account physical, mental (cognitive and emotional), and organizational factors, as well as the way these factors interact within the work system. Sometimes, the broader field that includes the whole work system is called Human Factors and Ergonomics.
Ergonomics is a word people hear all the time but don’t really stop and think about it. They think it doesn’t really apply to them or their veterinary hospital. But ergonomics is what hospital design and creating a positive working environment is all about, it is taking your practice and making all of the workspaces both user and patient friendly and comfortable. Knowing where ergonomics is important and why it is important is key, and then knowing how it can be incorporated into an existing facility can help you transform your hospital. When discussing ergonomics and how to include it into a practice many people tend to think “that sounds great if I was starting from scratch and building a new hospital but I already have an existing facility,” but there are some practical ways to incorporate ergonomics into our existing hospital.
Where Ergonomics is Key: would be you or your employees lifting large dogs onto an exam table or into a bathing tub. There are a lot of products on the market today that can be incorporated into your practice so that people don’t have to lift heavy objects and animals. Search for wet lift tables or bathing tubs that are hydraulic. These products help to decrease the strain of lifting large dogs and also the chance of a dog reacting to being lifted by biting an employee (worker’s comp claims, yet another excellent reason to incorporate ergonomics into your work place). Another way to make your workspaces more user friendly is by evaluating the height of your countertops vs. the height of your staff. Years ago a standard countertop height was 36” but research shows that people have gotten taller over the last 40 years and so now the new standard should maybe be 40”. For instance if you have a vet tech that is 5’10” it will be difficult for them to work off of the same exam table and countertops as a vet tech that is 5’4”. Many of the hospitals we have done custom cabinetry to utilize 1 work area by varying the counter top height sort of like a stair step, higher on each end, with a lower space in the center so everyone has a comfortable working height to do paperwork. If your staff is of varying heights but your budget doesn’t allow for a new counter top, consider buying a simple fold up or fold down exam table and installing it at the right height to accommodate those who currently use a counter top that’s too tall or too short.
It is often said that if you take care of your employees they will take care of you and creating a safer and more comfortable work environment is a great place to start. Whether you have an existing facility or are building a new one, it is often the little things that can make a big difference.
Ergonomics is a working science that fits a specific workplace, system, or environment to an employee’s needs. In broad terms, ergonomics speaks to how people interact with an artificial environment most efficiently. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) enforces a set of criteria of workplace regulations that present-day employers must comply with for the health and safety of their employees. Federal OSHA does not have specific regulations regarding ergonomics (California OSHA or Cal/OSHA does), but maintains that all ergonomic injuries fall under the General Duty Clause. Ergo, ergonomics is a major concern for all employers and employees under OSHA.
Ergonomics holds a tremendous impact on the efficiency of an individual’s workday. The ultimate impact depends on the tasks involved within a person’s job role. Poor ergonomic setups are the main contributors to workplace injuries. Poor ergonomics also cause other acute injuries to develop down the line due to recurrent stressors. In sum, this type of prolonged exposure causes numerous health issues that are preventable with the right techniques and practices.
Within the veterinary field, office or hospital workers face physical demands every day on the job. Employers must deal with multi-faceted concerns about overall employee well-being. The implications of these physical demands are often not felt until daily aches, pains, and worries come about. Ergonomic program planning is one low-hanging safety fruit employers should reach for to improve veterinary workplace safety. Let’s closely examine how you can best prevent employee injuries and increase productivity. Here’s a guide to ergonomics in veterinary practices.
How does ergonomics relate to veterinary medicine?
Working with animals can be intensely physical work, so physical ergonomics is obviously important throughout veterinary practice. Many veterinarians experience musculoskeletal discomfort (MSD) related to their work, and good physical ergonomics could likely improve this situation. But ergonomics is a systems science, so the relationship between ergonomics and veterinary medicine goes far beyond the individual person and their physical workspace.
Organizational ergonomics includes topics such as leadership and work schedules. Responsive leadership, physically and emotionally safe work climates, and humane and fair work scheduling would all fit under organizational ergonomics.
Veterinary Medicine: Musculoskeletal Injury Risks
The American Veterinary Medical Associations affirms that common tasks and daily work activities within the veterinary profession present a prominent risk for musculoskeletal risk disorders. Musculoskeletal risk disorders (MSDs) are injuries that affect an individual’s body movement within the musculoskeletal system, such as muscles, nerves, tendons, and tendons sheaths. Any part of the human body may face afflictions from MSDs, but the most noted problem areas within the industry are the neck, back, and shoulders.
The majority of job tasks a veterinary professional performs can associate with MSD risks. Such actions and activities include the overexertion of excessive force or gripping and the exaggerated repetition of movement patterns that aggravate pressure on the nerves or tendons. Also, poor or unsupportive physical posture positions for a long period of time, static postures that restrict the steady flow of blood, hasty twisting or bending motions, the handling and lifting of heavy loads, and stressful impacts on the hands and knees are further risks.
Since no single factor or circumstance causes MSDs, addressing ergonomic risks programmatically through new tools and good working methods is fundamental moving forward. Prevention is key to maintain a safe and healthy workplace. Employers should determine adequate preventive measures and monitor risks. Employees should follow ergonomics best practices to alleviate both incidences and present symptoms.
Seating and Standing Ergonomic Solutions
Considering internal and external factors in an office space is of high importance to prevent injury occurrences. How a person sits, stands, or moves in their workplace is a concerning health matter. Similar to other employees in healthcare or medical care professions, veterinary professionals can either sit, stand, or hold their bodies in awkward positions for long periods of time when working with clients or around patients.
The ideal for animal care workers is to alternate between sitting tasks and standing tasks throughout the day. This approach reduces maintaining stressful positions or placing pressure on a specific body part for too long. Mindfulness about particular physical demands helps reduce prolonged and repeated motions. A remedying solution is to reallocate tasks from one qualified worker to another to balance out job duties. While this is not always possible, do keep such practices in mind for all veterinary office staff.
Sitting for a long period of time puts pressure on the spine, and improper arrangements of desks, surgical tables, and other workspaces do not encourage good posture. Medical professionals even stress the importance of ergonomically designed seating that provides comfort and prevents physical strains. Height-adjustable chairs that maintain proper posture positions provide suitable solutions. Stretching, resting, and changing positioning habits are superior ergonomic strategies for veterinary practices.
Core Ergonomic Principles for Veterinary Tasks
Next up on a guide to ergonomics in veterinary practices, we’ll examine the core ergonomic principles animal care professionals should follow. Compared to other industries, the peculiarities of veterinary work are sometimes misunderstood. The job descriptions of veterinary professionals may not fully outline the comprehensive demands of a particular position, as each office and each employee deals with unique challenges.
While veterinary administration and reception workers spend a good portion of the day on the phone or at the computer, other safety factors are always at play in the animal care business. Veterinarians, techs, and assistants who interact with animals often need to lift and restrain patients during physical exams and procedures.
Veterinary employees should perform patient handling with care. Restraint and handling are when a multitude of workplace injuries tend to occur. Workers must be taught proper lifting, holding, and handling techniques as practical injury avoidance solutions. Implementing appropriate engineering controls such as lifting tables for heavier patients and using multi-person techniques for processes are more than simple suggestions. Keep in mind equipment use as well. Any utilized tools or equipment should feel like a natural extension of the body, a manageable weight and handling size, and in good working order for safe use.
Ergonomically-Friendly Employer Practices: Training
Workplace health and safety requires a unified culture and team involvement. Fully comprehending and implementing ergonomic practices is a broad team effort. Staff members are the only individuals who can detect if their personal job duties cause needless risks, discomforts, or pain. The number one method of protection is awareness. Similar to other safety concerns, employees should understand how to recognize and report ergonomic hazards to management. Training all employees on ergonomic guidelines leads to greater productivity as a business. The ability to effectively recognize and avoid ergonomic hazards leads to enhanced workplace safety—and compliance with OSHA standards.
Compiled & Shared by- Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)
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