Ergonomics: An Important Factor in the Operating Room

Abstract

There is a mutual interaction between health and the workplace. Health affects the capacity to work and working conditions affect a worker's health. Operating rooms (ORs) are stressful, complex settings in which there are ergonomic risk factors, such as lifting/moving heavy equipment. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) can arise due to unhealthy ergonomic conditions. Our study showed that nurses had been absent from work and/or retired early due to WRMSDs. Good ergonomic conditions in ORs increase nurses' occupational health and safety, their job satisfaction and performance. These factors contribute to patient care outcomes in a positive way.

Characterizing Occupational Low Back Pain among Surgeons Working in Ministry of Health Hospitals: Prevalence, Clinical Features and Risk and Protective Factors

“…Unhealthy ergonomic conditions are a well-known characteristic of operating rooms, where surgeons are exposed to several tasks involving uncomfortable movements and postures, such as lifting, bending, twisting, etc. This is recognized to increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders among surgeons as well as other operatory room workers, compared to their peers from other departments [ 20] . The present study examined the association of eight non-ergonomic movements and postures with OLBP among surgeons, using a scoring model based on the frequency of performing each activity.…”

Assessment of the Environmental and Physical Ergonomic Conditions of ORs in Turkey

“…When researchers analyzed studies that addressed work‐related diseases and their causes, physical ergonomic factors often were implicated . The goals of our study were to investigate environmental and physical ergonomic conditions and to identify ergonomic risk factors in hospital ORs in İzmir, Turkey.…”

“…Perioperative professionals are required to stand for long hours in ORs, which usually contain a variety of technological equipment, such as surgical beds, robot‐assisted bracket‐mounted arms, energy‐generating devices, high‐resolution imaging equipment, and sound systems . The stressful, complex working environment of the OR requires special knowledge, skills, equipment, labor, and attention, and it also involves various biological, chemical, physical, and psychosocial risks for employees . Perioperative staff members may sustain injuries because of poor environmental and ergonomic conditions in the OR …”

“…The stressful, complex working environment of the OR requires special knowledge, skills, equipment, labor, and attention, and it also involves various biological, chemical, physical, and psychosocial risks for employees . Perioperative staff members may sustain injuries because of poor environmental and ergonomic conditions in the OR …”

Spectral Video in Image-Guided Microsurgical Applications: Integrating Imaging Technology into the Clinical Environment and Ergonomic Considerations

“…In recent years, the ergonomic factors that have been introduced with new technology have not been taken into account [25]. New equipment is often utilized without proper consideration of design issues.…”