Objectives:

To estimate ergonomic risk factors in nursing staff in the Intensive Care Unit of the Isidro Ayora General Hospital.

Method:

Descriptive cross-sectional study with 20 registered nurses working in the ICU. The REBA method was applied to analyse the impact of patient and equipment handling on postural load, evaluating the trunk, neck, legs and arms through direct observation.

Results:

Twenty-one questionnaires were analyzed; 55% women, 45% men. Sixty per cent presented a medium level of risk requiring necessary intervention, 30 per cent presented a low risk where intervention may be necessary, and 10 per cent presented a negligible risk with no need for intervention. In women: 40% medium risk, 10% low risk, 5% negligible risk. In men: 20% medium risk, 20% low risk, 5% negligible risk.

Conclusions:

Nursing professionals presented problems in the trunk, neck, and legs caused by patient mobilisation, data assessment and recording in documents, and inappropriate postures.