Greetings,

My interest in ergonomics developed when I noticed that techs in labs all 
around the country were developing pain that they attributed to the work 
environment.  My thoughts were the same as Freida's -- Why is it so much 
worse now than it was when I started in the lab?  After considerable research 
I've found that two of the major contributors to the work-related 
musculoskeletal disorders are the increased per-person workload and the 
increased use of computers.  

Although pain is often felt when performing microtomy, and the required 
motions can certainly contribute to the disorders, microtomy is not usually 
what causes the initial injuries.  There are many contributors in histology.  
A survey of histotechs was conducted by a group from the University of 
Michigan and published in the JOH in 1995-96.  (See below for references.)  
They determined that embedding, manual coverslipping and computer data entry 
were the most harmful, and many of the other routine duties performed daily 
would contribute to the disorders.  

The best recommendation is to develop an ergonomic program that is suitable 
for your working environment.  Be sure to rotate tasks, take lots of 
mini-breaks and exercise the muscles that you have a tendency to overuse. You 
would be well served to have a professional evaluate your work habits, 
furniture, tools, instruments and work areas.  These people can be from your 
risk assessment group, insurance company, government agency or physical 
therapy department.  Businesses are usually cooperative when it is brought to 
there attention that there is an increased risk of injury in a particular 
area, and that you are attempting to contribute to keeping problems from 
escalating to full blown workman's compensation claims.  

Good luck to each of you.

Jan Minshew
Technical Director
TBS, Inc.

References:
Herman, Gilbert E., et al., Histologists, Microtomy, Chronic Repetitive 
Trauma, and Techniques to Avoid Injury: i.  A Statistical Evaluation of the 
Job Functions Performed by Histologists, The Journal of Histotechnology, Vol. 
18, No. 2, June, 1995.

Herman, Gilbert E., et al., Histologists, Microtomy, Chronic Repetitive 
Trauma, and Techniques to Avoid Injury: ii. A Physical and Rehabilitation 
Medicine Physician's Perspective, The Journal of Histotechnology, Vol. 18, 
No. 4, December, 1995.

Herman, Gilbert E., et al., Histologists, Microtomy, Chronic Repetitive 
Trauma, and Techniques to Avoid Injury: III.  Comparison of Performance 
Characteristics of a Motorized Microtome to Conventional Rotary Microtomes, Th
e Journal of Histotechnology, Vol. 19, No. 1, March, 1996.