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Content Reviewed 09/30/2008
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Sonography
Engineering, Administrative and Work Practice Controls |
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In the day-to-day operations of a sonography lab, there is always pressure to
increase the number of procedures performed. To reduce the risk of
potentially career-ending musculoskeletal disorders, management should
ensure that the need to perform a high number of procedures does not
compromise management commitment to implementing proper ergonomic
measures for sonographers.
Costs to an institution can include excessive sick leave absences,
reduced production, loss
of workforce, costs related to temporary staff and all other costs
associated with recruiting and training for a hard-to-fill position.
On average, today’s sonographers have been scanning for more than 10
years; their training did not include instruction on occupational
injury and how to avoid it. Recognition of the problems and possible
interventions can help sonographers protect themselves by identifying and avoiding hazardous situations.
Problem Recognition and Intervention
Many sonographers operate with relative independence. It is necessary that
they remain informed about the possible hazards associated with the
procedures they are performing. They should use all controls
available to minimize the intensity and time they are exposed to
stressful procedures.
Possible Solutions
Employers should ensure that sonographers receive
appropriate training and follow best practices in order to reduce the risk
of developing musculoskeletal disorders. These best practices include:
- Taking time to adjust all available equipment to minimize periods of
sustained bending, twisting, reaching, lifting,
contact pressure and awkward postures; alternating between sitting and standing
positions;
and varying scanning techniques and transducer grips.
- Reducing arm abduction (spread) and forward and backward
reach by using measures such as:
- Requesting the patient move to a position which is advantageous
from a posture standpoint, usually as close to you as possible.
- Adjusting the exam table and chair.
- Using arm supports.
- Lowering the light level in the room to eliminate glare on the
monitor and to increase contrast on the monitor so the image can be seen comfortably
and without strain.
- Using correct body mechanics when moving patients, wheelchairs,
beds, stretchers and ultrasound equipment.
- Causes for concern include lifting more than 50 pounds, moving an
adult patient who cannot assist, moving a patient who is obese, or
pushing equipment that weights over 600 pounds across a threshold or
up and down ramps.
- Relaxing muscles periodically throughout the day:
- Stretch hand, shoulder, and back muscles.
- Take mini breaks during the procedure.
- Refocus eyes onto distant objects.
- Vary procedures and tasks as much as reasonably possible.
- Take meal breaks away from work-related tasks.
- Stopping about every 8 minutes for mini breaks to perform
activities such as:
- Opening and closing your fist.
- Rolling your shoulders.
- Turning your head from side to side.
- Focusing your eyes on a distant spot on the wall.
- Maintaining a high level of physical fitness and range of motion in order to perform the
demanding work tasks that are required. Spend a few minutes warming up muscles
prior to undertaking tasks.
- Reporting and documenting any persistent pain experience to their employer and seek
competent medical advice.
- Employers, with the input from sonographers, should implement
staffing solutions that allow periods of time away from high-risk
tasks and provide as much variety as possible in the daily schedule.
Intersperse easier procedures throughout the day if possible.
- Staying informed about the health care facilities policies and procedures, including file
incident reports. Seek assistance from employee health or risk
management personnel when pain or discomfort is experienced.
Employers should ensure that sonographers participate in education
and training to reduce the risk of developing musculoskeletal
disorders. This education and training could include:
- Attending employer sponsored in-services.
- Attending seminars, lectures, workshops or conferences offered by
professional organizations or manufacturers.
- Accessing journals, textbooks or online resources.
- Attending a formal sonography program that includes
education on musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) prevention
in the curriculum.
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Engineering Controls, Work
Practices and Scheduling
Potential Hazards
Examples of other factors that may increase the force, posture, or
repetition of a task which may
result in injuries.
- Locating equipment in a room that is too small to allow for proper
arrangement and alignment of the machine, bed, chair and sonographer.
- Inadequate ventilation.
- Lighting that is too bright and unable to be controlled..
- Poor orientation of diagnostic suites in relation to other
critical areas requiring excessive frequency and distance of equipment
or patient transfer.
- Lack of time to properly adjust equipment or patients
for optimal procedure performance.
- Lack of knowledge about how to design, setup and equip the diagnostic suite for a
particular procedure.
- Lack of knowledge concerning basic body biomechanics to
minimize stress to the body.
- Improper staffing for the procedures performed.
Possible Solutions
- Provide adequate space in the examination area for the
maneuverability of equipment around the exam table and easy
access from all sides.
- Provide adjustable room lighting with easily accessible dimmer controls
and/or window shades or curtains.
- Provide adequate ventilation and temperature control to ensure the
comfort of sonographer and patient while enabling the equipment to
operate at a functional temperature.
- New equipment should always be assessed for its suitability in the
physical space in which it will be used.
- Casters or wheels should be suitable for the flooring surface.
- Equipment size and weight should be evaluated to ensure that it is
suitable for the procedures and physical space in which it will be
placed.
- Equipment should be compatible with other items that will be used
during the exam.
- Sonographers should be informed about improved patient positioning options that may assist in
reducing scan time:
- Arm extensions support the patient’s limb(s) during vascular
studies.
- Central locking casters make it easier and quicker to lock the
table in place.
- Provide adequate rest breaks between examinations, particularly for
challenging procedures which are comprised of similar postural and
muscular force requirements.
- Encourage task rotation in the workplace as much as possible. Scan
different types of procedures whenever possible. In multi-specialty
labs, avoid doing the same type of scans back to back; intersperse
time scanning with time performing other laboratory tasks and paper
work.
- Collaborate with employees on staffing solutions that allow
sufficient time away from work for rest and recuperation.
- Establish maximum transducer use time per hour, if possible. Research
to determine maximum safe transducer time is encouraged.
- Provide annual training to all employees on the risk and prevention
of musculoskeletal disorders.
- Perform risk assessments in consultation with the sonographers on
a regular basis to identify musculoskeletal disorders and formulate
and implement controls for the prevention and/or reduction of these
disorders.
- Solicit sonographer input on establishing protocols on examination
scheduling.
- Develop best practice documents with input from the sonographers/sonologists.
Review and update regularly. Ensure that new sonographers are
educated and familiar with the best practices of the institution.
- When planning to purchase new equipment, the employer should seek
the input of technical staff to assess the risks and suitability of
the equipment. For example, at least some tables should be able to accommodate bariatric
(obese) patients weighing up to 600 pounds.
- Ensure that maintenance schedules and plans are implemented and
enforced.
- Sonographers should know when and to whom defective equipment should
be reported.
- Maintenance employees should know which equipment is to be
serviced and on what schedule.
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