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Attendees can gain additional industry knowledge from local experts in our live Q&A session covering topics relevant for:
- Scientists, Research Assistants, Researchers
- OH&S Managers
- Laboratory Managers
- Facility Managers
- Technical Managers
The goal of ergonomics is to improve the workplace in terms of workers' performance and well-being. Shaping the work environment and processes to the worker not only results in better work performance, but in fewer work-related health problems as well.
Common problems in laboratories include work-related musculoskeletal diseases of the upper limbs and the neck, caused by overuse due to repetitive working tasks, unfavorable working postures and mechanical overload. Eye problems linked to working tasks with high visual demands are also common.
This webinar will give you insights into laboratory ergonomics. You will learn how to improve the workplace in order to reduce ergonomic risks, thus preventing work-related injuries.
Topics covered include:
- Setting up your workstation
- Sitting & standing to work at the lab bench
- Working in bio-safety cabinets
- Pipetting with serological and micropipettes
- Using tubes, flasks and the vortex mixer
- Consequences of exposure to ergonomics risk in the lab
- Healthy habits to minimize fatigue
About the Presenters
Melissa Afterman is a Board-Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE) with 20 years of experience, specializing in laboratory ergonomics. She is an instructor and project consultant with the University of California Berkeley and San Francisco’s Ergonomics Research Lab and Graduate Training Program. Melissa presents regularly at national and international conferences and works with companies to implement ergonomics programs and improve ergonomic product design. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from California Polytechnic University in Bio-Resource/Agricultural Engineering and her Master’s degree in Human Factors/Ergonomics Engineering from San Jose State University.
Meg Honan is a consulting ergonomist for the UC Ergonomics Laboratory and course instructor. As the Ergonomics Program Manager for Genentech’s South San Francisco site until 2018, she engaged leadership at all levels and interdisciplinary teams through participatory ergonomics. This sphere of influence includes workplace and equipment design, process and production engineering, Safety, Health and Environment groups and safety improvement teams to integrate ergonomics into Genentech’s continuous improvement process. Her work experience has focused on employee work area and work method assessment and training employee based “Ergo-Advocate” improvement teams within Plant, Laboratory, Field operations, R&D and Office work environments. Meg has also been highly engaged in ergonomics as it relates to the expanding role of mobile devices and how unassigned work environments, flexible work and COVID19 have transformed the way we work today. She received her Master’s at University of California, Berkeley and is a Board-Certified Professional Ergonomist.