The document discusses ergonomics as an important factor in operating theatres. It notes that operating theatres present ergonomic risks like lifting heavy equipment that can cause work-related musculoskeletal disorders. It identifies physical, cognitive, and organizational ergonomic risks and provides examples of how to properly transfer patients to reduce ergonomic strain on staff. The document emphasizes that improving ergonomics in operating theatres can increase staff occupational health, safety, and performance, leading to better patient care outcomes.

1. Ergonomics: An important factor
in the Operating Theatre (OT)
Noor Emellia Binti Jamaludin
Pegawai Pemulihan Cara Kerja U44
Unit Pemulihan Cara Kerja HSAH

2. Introduction
• There is a mutual interaction between health and the
workplace. Health affects the capacity to work and
working conditions affect a worker’s health.
• Operating Theatre (OT) are stressful, complex settings
in which there are ergonomic risk factors, such as
lifting/moving heavy equipment.
• Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) can
arise due to unhealthy ergonomic conditions.
• Good ergonomic conditions in OT increase staffs
occupational health and safety, their job satisfaction
and performance. These factors contribute to patient
care outcomes in a positive way.

3. Introduction
• Ergonomics has a holistic approach which
considers physical, psychosocial,
organisational, environmental and other
relevant factors.
• WRMSDs are one of the leading causes of lost
workday, injury and illness. Exposure to these
ergonomic risk factors increases a staff’s risk
of injury (OSHA 2014).

4. Introduction
• The WRMSD most commonly seen among
operating room staffs is low back pain
(Sheikzadeh et al 2009, Choobineh et al 2010).
• Musculoskeletal disorders also include the
neck, shoulders, wrist, hand, elbow, waist,
back, hip, knee, ankle and foot disorders.

5. Ergonomics risks
• Ergonomics risks in the OT could be
subdivided into three groups:
– Physical ergonomics risks
– Cognitive ergonomics risks and
– Organisational ergonomics risks.

6. Physical ergonomics risks

7. Physical ergonomics risks

8. Physical ergonomics risks

9. Cognitive ergonomics risks

10. Organisational ergonomics risks

11. Bed to wheelchair transfer

12. Step 1 & 2

13. Step 3 & 4

14. Step 5 & 6

15. Step 7 & 8

16. Special considerations
• Do not allow patients to place their arms around your
neck. Have them place their arms around your hips.
• Avoid lifting patients. Let them stand using their own
strength.
• Stay close to your patient during the transfer to keep
the patient’s weight close to your centre of gravity
• If the patient has weakness on one side of the body
(e.g., due to a cerebral vascular accident — CVA — or
stroke), place the wheelchair on the strong side.

17. Moving a patient from bed to stretcher

18. Step 1 & 2

19. Step 3 & 4

20. Step 5 & 6

21. Step 7

22. Step 8

23. Step 9 - 11

24. Lifting techniques
• Watch video

25. Conclusion
• An understanding of ergonomics is crucial for OT staffs
and the working environment should be organised to
protect staffs’ health.
• Enhancing the quality of working conditions in the OT
increases staffs’ occupational health and safety, as well
as their productivity and performance, which all
contribute to staffs’ health and care outcomes in a
positive way.
• Good ergonomic working conditions will increase
motivation and job satisfaction, and will reduce staffs’
stress, absenteeism, occupational diseases and work
accidents.