The campus Ergonomics program is a faculty and staff support unit part of the Be Well at Work program under University Health Services. They provide assistance to departments to guide ergonomic improvement for campus faculty and staff work environments to prevent and address repetitive strain injury.
Their primary goal for departments with lab environments is to help labs address ergonomic risk from a design and equipment standpoint. Most of the fundamental ergonomic risks faced in lab work can be attributed to lack of adjustability, manual repetitive force, and posture due to workspace and equipment design and limitations.
Whether you have a new building project or existing lab renovations and upgrades, they can lend their expertise and connections to facilitate improving campus lab ergo standards in areas such as:
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Electronic pipettes and other automated or assistive lab equipment
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Ergonomically adjustable biosafety cabinets, isolator cabinets, fume hoods, etc.
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Ergonomically adjustable lab benches, work tables and computer stations
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Ergo lab stools and chairs
Potential supplemental funding aid is available through their Ergo Matching Funds program. This can help bridge funding gaps in implementing ergonomic lab improvements. You can request consultation for projects and/or individual/group ergo evaluations via their online request form. They can also assist with ergonomics training post-implementation of ergonomic improvements.
For general inquiries, email them at ergonomics@berkekey.edu and you can visit their website for program information.