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. 

Work Rehabilitation & Return-to-work

Sickness absence needs to be managed. Easing your employees back into the workplace safely can only be financially beneficial to your business. We can design return-to-work programmes to suit your company, to re-introduce and develop tolerance to work tasks, thus aiding a speedy return to the workplace.


How it Works

  • The advice may include designing a programme of work tasks for an employee, to strengthen and increase stamina and to help them get back into the work routine.
  • The return-to-work schedule of hours is negotiated, and advice is given on how to gradually increase the working hours over several weeks.
  • The therapist can attend meetings to ensure a smooth process of return-to-work and aid communication between all involved parties.
  • Following return-to-work, to provide regular monitoring of the employee in the workplace, and support of both the employee and employer through the process.

Benefits

  • Speeds up the return-to-work process and reduces costs.
  • Improves communication and co-ordination of approach.
  • Monitors, supports and guides the return-to-work process.
  • Identifies, tackles and solves barriers in the return-to-work process.
  • Achieve 'reasonable adjustments' under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Disability Discrimination Act 2005

Suitability

  • This input is required when an individual worker is on longer-term sick leave (more than 2 weeks), and can follow on from a Functional Assessment or Ergonomic Assessment.