I am in a small lab  where I do it all by myself. I  still get up every 30
min. and  do something else..it is better to change up  than be out on
workman`s comp. I am automated to the max now after permanent damage ....a
small settlement and much suffering....the hospital decided to automate and
make  the work place fit each employee, and buy  good chairs which fit  the
person not someones cast off. There are many ways to  help this situation.

-----Original Message-----
From: RetTek2000@aol.com [mailto:RetTek2000@aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2000 9:55 AM
To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: Re: Ergonomics & the Histotech


Histonetters:
           I appreciate all the e-mail from all the techs who are having 
multiple problems. I didnt think we were suffering that much.
        There must be some labs out there that are doing things right.
Can I hear from you. Do you divide the embedding, cutting, coverslipping, 
writing slides and other goodies that kill your hands.
Do you have slides that are prenumbered? Do you have a cassette numbering 
machine? I know many labs have autostainers now, but what about 
coverslipping? 
         Someone wrote that variety would be the answer. Sounds good, but
how 
many of you are in small labs where you have to do it all yourself. 
         I know the microtome is not the only answer, we must change the way

we work.
        I would like to hear from all techs, even if you do not have any 
problem.    (YET)
Randi
RetTech2000