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Microscopes are routinely used in a variety of workplaces from medical research labs to high-tech fabrication inspection. When the task involves only sporadic use of a microscope—for a few minutes at a time, a few times a day—the risk factors associated with its use are relatively low. But, in today’s business world of high specialization, workers may be required to sit fixed at a microscope for possibly hours with very little opportunity to vary their posture or task.
Standard microscopes offer only a limited degree of adjustability, if any, usually resulting in the following:
Possible Control Measures
A short-term improvement for some of the static shoulder loading would be to use a product such as a microscope arm support device, available through distributors such as AliMed. This product is designed to provide some relief to the arms and shoulders, but cannot really address the more serious issues of forward neck flexion and trunk flexion.
A better, perhaps more long-term solution would be to modify the microscope so that the user is able to maintain a neutral posture when using it. A neutral posture would be defined as a relaxed, natural position with the body at rest, the head and neck erect, the back supported by the lumbar area of the chair’s backrest with a hip angle of at least 90° or slightly greater.
Options to consider when modifying or upgrading existing microscopes include:
Where stereo viewing is not necessary, consider using video optics instead of the traditional viewing lenses, possibly the most optimal solution. In this system, the microscope itself acts like a camera and sends the image to a video monitor screen. The user is then free to locate the screen in a neutral position in relation to where they are sitting, again allowing them to maintain ideal neutral body postures while performing the task. In such a system, it is also advantageous to utilize a flat panel monitor instead of the standard CRT video monitor. The flat panel is far easier to adjust—a big advantage when the workstation is used by multiple employees—takes up less workspace, uses less energy, and is easier on the user’s eyes.
Other options include tilting the microscope towards the user with a retrofit bracket and fitting the eyepieces with fitted rubber eyecups for prolonged microscope use.
Revised: 04/2017