A questionnaire survey of the ergonomic problems associated with pipettes and their usage with specific reference to work-related upper limb disorders.

This study has considered the ergonomic problems associated with the use of pipettes through a questionnaire study of users. The study groups comprised an exposed (i.e. pipette users) and a non-exposed (i.e. non-users) cohort. Eighty questionnaire responses were returned by pipette users and 85 by non-users from six organisations; a response rate of approximately 55% for each of the study cohorts. The reported occurrence of elbow and hand complaints [using the general version of the Nordic musculoskeltal questionnaire (Kuorinka et al, 1987)] was significantly higher in the pipette user population as compared to the control population. There is an increase in the percentage of those reporting hand complaints as the duration of the working period involving continuous use of pipettes increases. Almost 90% of subjects in the longest exposure group (continuous use for more than 60 min) reported hand complaints. Users identified a number of features which made plunger operated pipettes more difficult to use: almost all of the female population who reported difficulties identified plunger operation as a design deficiency. Users also identified features of the general working environment which made the pipetting tasks more difficult. The study concludes that a number of work-related factors may affect the efficiency and comfort of staff performing laboratory tasks using pipettes.