الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Risk factors for the development of musculoskeletal disorders in medical laboratories include Physical risk factors which are mechanical overload, repetition frequency, exposure time, posture and individual risk factors and occupational stress.
Laboratory workers are at risk for repetitive motion injuries during routine laboratory procedures due to exposure to many ergonomic stressors, like, repetitive nature of pipetting, prolonged awkward postures at a microscope, opening and closing vial caps, microtome work, standing at laboratory workbenches, non ergonomic chair and using computers.
Work related musculoskeletal disorders develop over time and occur when muscles and joints are stressed, tendons are inflamed, nerves are pinched and the flow of blood is restricted. Divided into : Neck disorders, upper-extremity disorders, back injuries and lower-extremity disorders.
The workers must be awared with the protective measures to eliminate or reduce ergonomic stressors during routine laboratory procedures. The successful application of ergonomics assures high productivity, avoidance of illnesses and injuries and increased satisfaction among workers. Unsuccessful application, on the other hand can lead to work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
This study is descriptive cross-sectional study, population study was composed of 80 professionals worked at medical laboratories
.Aiming to determination of physical ergonomics risk factors, association with laboratory ergonomic stressors and determination of musculoskeletal disorders. Assessment of relations between physical
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ergonomics risk factors, job situation, time of exposure, laboratory stressors , musculoskeletal disorders and quality in these laboratories.
The collected data from designed Questionnaire, clinical examination and investigations were processed and analyzed.
Results show that condition of 68.8% of the sample size is
aggravated by repetitive movement‖ e.g condition is aggravated among
90.9 % usage of vials with big number of threads and among 68.5 %
with microscope usage‖ ,
Aggravation of the condition among 67.5 % by with prolonged or repetitive above shoulder reaching tasks‖ among 56 % with presence of microtome work materials positioned away from close and easy reach‖ .
Aggravation of the condition among 56% by maintain control of equipment or tools ,31.0% by static posture, 26.3% o by contact stress,
Neck and upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders were found among 42.5% of the sample size, 55.9% with age > 40 years, 54.7% with work period > 10 years , 20.6 % with moderate pain and 32.4 % with severe pain, found among 61.8% with non ergonomic computer chair exposed to awkward body position , 52.9 % with Contact stresses exist between forearm, wrist and/or elbow and workbench.
In this study; back musculoskeletal disorders were found among
31.3% of the sample size, 76.0% with work period > 10 years, among
24.0 % with moderate pain, 52% with maintain control of equipment or tools, 60% with no sufficient leg room and knee clearance when working at the computer exposed to static posture, found among 72 % with no lab bench chair sufficient lumbar support and among 96 % with no microscope adjustable chair that provides adequate back support .
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Back musculoskeletal disorders were found among 60% and Lower limbs musculoskeletal disorders were found among 66.7 % with no lab bench adequate leg room.
In this study; 15.0% of the sample size are overweight .Lower limbs musculoskeletal disorder were found among 50.0% with height
>145 cm, among 33.3% with weight >40 kilograms and 16.7 % with slight pain, among 66.7% with no sufficient leg room and knee clearance when working at the computer, among 83.3 % with no lab bench anti- fatigue mat to stand on or a stool to elevate one foot.
In this study; 80% of the sample size complaining from work related injury, only 45% from them making medical investigations , 28% treated by rest , 12.5 % treated by physical therapy and 1.3% treated by surgery. Only 50% of the workers take computer work breaks, 46% take stretch breaks, 35% use telephone headset with laboratory tasks and 0% is aware of ergonomic resources. These factors decrease productivity and quality of life in the laboratory work environment. It is recommended that medical laboratory workers must be awared with the protective measures to eliminate or reduce ergonomic stressors during routine laboratory procedures through ergonomic training program