Ergonomic Assessment

2007 Assessment Statistics

During 2007 Healthywork Ltd conducted in excess of 350 Ergonomic Assessments. An audit has been conducted to establish what the most common recommendations have been.

An Audit of 50 random cases was conducted during 2008 by reviewing the assessment reports.

42% were found to be sitting too low to the desk and the work tasks they were performing. The chairs were raised to the correct height, depending on the gas stem height adjustability of the chairs.

20% had no arm rests on their office chair. For 22% the arm rests were too far apart for their build and another 20% were not using their arm rests, as they were incorrectly positioned.

Therefore 62% were not gaining necessary forearm support from chair arm rests.

For 18% the lumbar support was not at the correct height. Another 8% did not have lumbar support available on their chair.

90% of the individuals required an alternative model chair and of those 32% required a more specialist chair than their own chair supplier could provide.

26% needed their monitor screen raising to the correct height, once they were sitting at the correct sitting height to the desk.

44% needed to move their keyboard and mouse closer so that they were sitting and working in a better posture.

76% required a sliding writing and reading work surface which could be moved over the keyboard so that all of the work tasks were at the correct height and directly in front of them.

20% of the cases were a follow up assessment, after having had an initial assessment. Therefore equipment had been provided and the follow up was to ensure they were set up correctly and review progress. 

Job Demands Analysis

Understanding the demands a particular job places on whoever performs the role, helps to recruit the right personnel and keep them safe. The process grades the task components in detail and provides a thorough analysis of the processes. Highlighting the level of risk in tasks enables companies to apply a 'leaner' ergonomic approach, saving time and increasing productivity levels.


How it Works

  • The assessor visits the workplace for 2-3hrs and discusses the job tasks with both management and worker's performing the tasks.
  • Observation of the work tasks are conducted. From this a detailed report which covers all physical components of the job is produced.
  • The report assesses required job role performance in general, rather than related to individual workers.

Benefits

  • Helps in the recruitment process, so that the physical attributes required for the job are fulfilled by the potential employee.
  • Aids employers wishing to analyse the job roles of their staff, to ensure that they reduce any risks and keep their workforce healthy and safe, thus reducing insurance costs.
  • Assists health conscious job design, rotation and improves productivity.
  • Helps when writing job descriptions to accurately reflect the physical demands of the job.
  • Can be used to assess all manual jobs within an organisation, which can be useful when designing work programmes for employee's returning to work who require further rehabilitation or alternative duties.

Suitability

  • This assessment may be required prior to an injured worker having a Functional Assessment, so that their physical abilities can be matched to a specific role.
  • This information can enable ill or injured employee's to continue working whilst recovering, performing job roles which do not aggravate their injury or illness.