News and innovation
line
Six tips to prevent repetitive strain injury in pharmacy technicians
line
Facebook LinkedIn Emailline
Contact Us

Six tips to prevent repetitive strain injury in pharmacy technicians

Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is widespread, accounting for one third of all worker injury and illness cases across industries in the United Kingdom2. Merriam-Webster defines RSI as, “any of various painful musculoskeletal disorders (such as carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis) caused by cumulative damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, or joints (as of the hand or shoulder) from highly repetitive movements3.”

Due to the nature of their work, pharmacy technicians are at a high risk of developing RSI1. Risk factors for these musculoskeletal disorders include1,4:

  • Repetitive motions
  • Awkward body postures
  • Fast-paced work environment
  • Exertion of high or prolonged muscular forces
  • Insufficient rest or recovery time during work or between shifts
  • Mechanical stress concentrations

For pharmacy technicians, repeating the same motions when compounding the cytotoxic drugs used to treat cancer can be strenuous on hands and wrists5. These repetitive motions and awkward body postures are the most harmful risk factors for developing work-related injury1.

RSI has been associated with lost work time, significant medical costs and high turnover of pharmacy technicians6. According to the European Musculoskeletal Conditions Surveillance and Information Network (EUMUSC), the cost linked to one RSI in Germany was estimated at €28,5457.

RSI prevention tips

  1. Observe workplace conditions8
  2. Identify risk factors in the workplace8
  3. Encourage early reporting of injuries8
  4. Reinforce worker training on recognising RSI symptoms8
  5. Monitor progress on a regular basis8
  6. Use pumps and other automatic filling devices to reduce risk factors1

Facilimix™ Compounding Device

As part of our commitment to protecting healthcare worker safety, BD offers a solution that can reduce the risk of RSI in pharmacy technicians. The Facilimix™ Compounding Device is designed to eliminate syringe push/pull motions by using a pump to withdraw or inject compounds.

This portable, lightweight (less than 1 kg) device is compatible with all luer lock closed systems, elastomeric pumps and intravenous (IV) sets.

By taking these preventive steps, you can lower muscle fatigue, increase productivity and reduce the incidence and severity of work-related RSI8. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders can be painful and debilitating, but solutions are available to help alleviate the pain and ensure pharmacy technician safety.

Learn more on BD hazardous drug safety

 

#drugcompounding #healthcareworkersafety #repetitivestraininjury #rsi #rsiprevention


References

1. Reisz F, Gairard-Dory AC, Fonmartin K, Bourbon J, Gourieux B. Prevention of work related musculoskeletal disorders in pharmaceutical technology. Paper presented at: 14th European Groupe d’évaluation de recherche sur la protection en atmosphère contrôlée (GERPAC) conference; 5-7 October, 2016; Giens Peninsula, France.

2. Musculoskeletal Health in Europe Report v5.0. European Musculoskeletal Conditions Surveillance and Information Network (EUMUSC). http://www.eumusc.net/myUploadData/files/Musculoskeletal%20Health%20in%20Europe%20Report%20v5.pdf. Accessed 17 November 2020.

3. Repetitive strain injury. Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repetitive%20strain%20injury. Published 2020. Accessed 28 September 2020.

4. Byl NN, Barbe MF, Dolan CB, Glass G. Repetitive Stress Pathology: Soft Tissue. In: Magee DJ, ed. Pathology and Intervention in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation. Philadelphia, PA, USA: Saunders; 2016.

5. Belisle C. Tips for CSTD Use. Oncology Safety. 2017;14(2):S8. https://www.pppmag.com/digitalmag/Main.php?MagNo=180&PageNo=1#page/10.

6. MacDonald V, Keir PJ. Assessment of Musculoskeletal Disorder Risk with Hand and Syringe use in Chemotherapy Nurses and Pharmacy Assistants. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: School of Graduate Studies, McMaster University; 2017.

7. Musculoskeletal Health in Europe Summary Report. European Musculoskeletal Conditions Surveillance and Information Network (EUMUSC). http://eumusc.net/myUploadData/files/Musculoskeletal%20Health%20in%20Europe%20Report%20Summary%20KE%20WIP.pdf. Accessed 17 November 2020.

8. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ergonomics. U.S. Dept. of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/ergonomics. Published 2020. Accessed 24 September 2020.

This list of references to third party peer reviewed material and the sites they are hosted on are provided for your reference and convenience only, and do not imply any review or endorsement of the material or any association with their operators.  The Third Party References (and the Web sites to which they link) may contain information that is inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated. Your access and use of the Third Party Sites (and any Web sites to which they link) is solely at your own risk.