What are Ergonomics?
Ergonomics requires an understanding of the work environment to design and arrange a set-up optimal for human use. This includes safe work in both white and blue-collar environments.
Incorporating good ergonomic practices in the workplace is essential to ensuring your staff are safe and working productively. Workplaces that acquire poor ergonomic practices are at risk of both short and long-term implications. Â
What are the Risks of Bad Ergonomics?
Ignoring the risks associated with bad ergonomic practices can have a serious impact on an employee’s health and affect the performance of a workplace and its culture.
This may include:
Short Term Risks
- Neck, back, shoulder and arm pain
- Headaches
- Repetitive injury strain
- Fatigue
Long Term Risks
- Carpal Tunnel
- Diabetes
- Heart conditions
- Weight gain
- Stroke
- Postural muscle aches and pains
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Decrease in morale and productivity
What is an Ergonomic Assessment?
An ergonomic assessment involves assessing an employee’s workstation and determining the correct posture and set-up for the individual.
Ergonomic assessments ensure that there is an appropriate interaction between an employee and their workstation. This involves assessing seating arrangements as well as daily behaviours such as:
- How they stand;
- The equipment they use (computers, accessories, keyboards and machinery);
- And their posture.
What are the Benefits of Ergonomic Assessments?
Adopting good ergonomic practices protects an employee’s physical and psychosocial health. Ergonomic assessments help to identify risks and offer solutions to mitigate workplace injuries.
The benefits of an ergonomic assessment can include:
- Reducing costs
- Improvement in productivity and engagement
- Improvement in quality of work
- Improvement in workplace safety
By taking part in an ergonomic assessment, workplaces can guarantee a duty of care in ensuring that work areas are safe and the risk of injury is minimised.
Types of Ergonomic Assessments
Our assessments optimise employee wellbeing and overall system performance, providing benefits to both the worker and employer. By providing these assessments, you can meet your duty of care to employees by ensuring that work areas are safe and the risk of injury is minimised.
| Type of Assessment | Includes |
|---|---|
| Express Ergonomic Assessment | Basic workstation review and adjustment for an employee. Short report included. |
| Standard Ergonomic Assessment | Workstation review and adjustment for an employee with minor symptomatic presentations. Standard report included. |
| Comprehensive Ergonomic Assessment | Workstation review and adjustment for an employee with a known medical condition. Comprehensive report included. |
| Bulk Assessments | Basic workstation review and adjustment for a group of employees. Short report and office flyers included. |
| Ergonomic Assessment - Remote | Workstation review and adjustment for an employee with minor symptomatic presentations, conducted remotely. Standard report included. |
| Ergonomic Assessment - Home Workstation | Workstation review and adjustment for an employee working from home. Standard report and photographic materials included. |
Our services are available nationwide. For more information about our services contact us.
Learn how to set up your home office correctly to mitigate the risk of fatigue and pain with our Free Workstation Ergonomics Poster. Â
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Disclaimer – these articles are provided to supply general safety information to people responsible for OHS in their organisation. They are general in nature and do not substitute for legal and/or professional advice. We always suggest that organisations obtain information specific to their needs. Additional information can be found at https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/Â