By Elizabeth Kornegay, CDA, RDH, MS
Recently, Business Insider published an article ranking the most health-damaging jobs. Of the 37 careers on the list, dental hygienists ranked number one, general dentists ranked number two, dental laboratory technicians ranked number four, and dental assistants ranked number five.1 As such, it is imperative that oral health professionals use standard precautions and work to make their workplaces safe. Oral health professionals are at risk for fatigue and discomfort due to static positions, poorly designed workspaces, and the exertion of repetitive and forceful motions. This can lead to the development of musculoskeletal disorders, decreased career length, and impaired quality of life. Proper ergonomics is key to supporting the musculoskeletal health of clinicians. Ergonomics is defined as maximizing efficiency and safety in the workplace through strategically positioning how people work and designing the function of the work area.2
* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
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