What is an Ergonomic or Workstation Assessment?
An ergonomic or workstation assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of an employee’s work environment, tasks, and equipment to ensure optimal alignment between the worker and their workspace. This process identifies potential risks, such as poor posture or repetitive strain, and provides recommendations to enhance comfort, productivity, and safety.
By tailoring the workstation to meet individual needs, ergonomic assessments aim to prevent workplace injuries, manage existing conditions, and support employees in maintaining their health and performance.
What types of Ergonomic or Workstation Assessments are there?
There are a few different types or ergonomic or workstation assessments that you can refer for and these include:
- Brief Assessment: Usually specific for an individual and will be a short 20-to-30-minute assessment. Best utilised when there is no known injury history or reported symptoms, and when you just require a screening of the individual’s workstation and the understand what equipment needs or modifications they may require.
- Comprehensive Assessment: Usually specific for an individual and will be a longer 60-minute assessment. Best utilised when there is an injury history or reported symptoms to the employer to help manager. This additional time allows our Consultants to better understand the individuals needs, their work environment and make the necessary recommendations for their equipment needs or modifications that they may require.
- Bulk Assessments: Usually for multiple individuals or teams and will be a short 10-to-15 minute ergonomic screening of each person to focus primarily on their workstation set up and equipment needs. Best utilised with an office changeover or when many members in the team might require an assessment.
- Ergonomic Risk Assessment: Usually specific to a particular role or environment that may be contributing to some injuries or reported symptoms for staff. An ergonomic risk assessment is more about reviewing and making recommendations on what adjustments could be made to the role, environment or work area to make it more ergonomic, user-friendly and adjustable for all staff to utilise more safely.
When should I refer for an Ergonomic or Workstation Assessment?
Referrals for ergonomic or workstation assessments should be considered in the following situations:
- Preventing injuries: To proactively address potential risks, such as poor posture, repetitive movements, or poorly adjusted equipment.
- Injury recovery: When an employee is returning to work after an injury and requires adjustments or alternate equipment to prevent re-injury.
- Employee discomfort: If employees’ report discomfort, pain, or fatigue related to their work environment or tasks.
- New workstations: When employees transition to new roles, workstations, a new office or require new equipment.
- Remote work setup: To ensure employees working from home have safe and efficient workspaces.
- Compliance: To meet workplace health and safety standards or industry regulations.
What Are the Benefits of Doing an Ergonomic or Workstation Assessment?
Ergonomic assessments provide a wide range of benefits for both employees and organisations, including:
- Injury prevention: Reducing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders, repetitive strain injuries, and other workplace-related conditions.
- Improved productivity: Enhancing employee efficiency and focus by creating a comfortable and functional workspace.
- Reduced absenteeism: Supporting employee health and well-being, leading to fewer sick days and improved attendance.
- Cost savings: Lowering costs associated with workers’ compensation claims, injury-related downtime, and turnover.
- Employee satisfaction: Demonstrating a commitment to employee well-being, fostering a positive work environment.
- Legal compliance: Ensuring adherence to occupational health and safety requirements.
Who Can Complete an Ergonomic or Workstation Assessment?
Ergonomic or workstation assessments are typically carried out by qualified professionals with expertise in workplace ergonomics and injury prevention, such as:
- Occupational Therapists
- Physiotherapists
- Exercise Physiologists
These assessments are customised to the unique needs of the employee and the demands of their role, ensuring practical and sustainable outcomes.
Investing in ergonomic or workstation assessments helps build a safer, healthier, and more productive workplace, supporting your team’s well-being and your organisation’s success.
Get in touch today
We are proud to be Queensland owned and operated. We operate across five geographical locations – Brisbane, Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Townsville and Cairns.
We are ideally positioned to help you meet your ergonomic and workstation assessment needs.