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Gloria Labrador (SHA) helps ensure that workstations
are ergonomically correct. (Photo by Diana
Rogers) |
By Miriam Boon
When former Medical Director Margaret Deanesly called for
someone to look into the treatment and prevention of Repetitive Stress
Injuries (RSI), a condition caused by repeated movements such as typing,
nurse Gloria Labrador volunteered to look into it. Nine years later,
Labrador has built a successful
ergonomics program at SLAC—from the ground
up.
After attending classes on ergonomics at UC Berkeley and
the University of Michigan, Labrador returned to SLAC armed with the
knowledge to fight RSI. She set up a program that pro-actively screens
staff for RSI, and helps them set up a work environment that is
ergonomically correct.
"Since we started the ergonomics program, we have
decreased RSI claims by 90 percent," Labrador said. "I think we have a
very good program over all. The success of the program was the result of
the Lab being willing to provide the right equipment, and of employee
compliance."
Pro-Active Treatment
In 1997, a form called "Physical Requirement and Exposures
Checklist" was revised to include ergonomics. If it shows that a new
employee’s job puts her or him in danger of RSI, Labrador will contact the
new hire about making an ergonomic appointment.
"We have gone pro-active," she says emphatically.
Approximately fifty percent of the employees who are contacted by Labrador
respond, and their e-mail correspondences are kept on file for future
reference.
Even though computers are more pervasive than ever at
SLAC, the instance of RSI has surprisingly not increased over time. "To
the contrary," Labrador explains, "because people are more aware, at the
first sign they come to the Medical Department" for treatment.
Labrador is preparing to leave SLAC this month to start a
new ergonomics program at a Bay Area computer chip firm. Once she leaves,
John Turek (SHA), who has also been doing ergonomic evaluations for the
last five years, will continue in this capacity.
A replacement for Labrador has not yet been chosen, but
ergonomic appointments are still available by request.
For more information, call the
Medical Department (Ext. 2281).
