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Ergonomic Assessment

Identifying practical ways to improve comfort, efficiency, and work performance

Benchmark Occupational Therapy provides individualized ergonomic assessments to identify factors that may contribute to discomfort, physical strain, reduced efficiency, or difficulty performing work tasks.

What Does an Ergonomic Assessment Evaluate?

The specific areas assessed depend on the work setting, job demands, and referral question.

An ergonomic assessment may examine:

  • Workstation configuration

  • Desk and chair setup

  • Computer monitor positioning

  • Keyboard and mouse placement

  • Sit-to-stand workstations

  • Reaching and handling requirements

  • Repetitive upper-extremity activity

  • Sustained or awkward postures

  • Lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling

  • Work height and equipment positioning

  • Tool use

  • Work pace and task repetition

  • Opportunity for position changes

  • Organization of frequently used materials

  • Environmental factors relevant to work performance

The goal is to identify modifiable factors that may improve the fit between the worker and the work environment.

Office and Computer Workstation Ergonomics

For office-based positions, the assessment may include detailed review of the worker’s computer workstation and usual work habits.

This may include evaluation of:

  • Chair height, depth, and support

  • Desk and work surface height

  • Monitor height and viewing distance

  • Keyboard and mouse positioning

  • Laptop use

  • Document placement

  • Telephone or headset use

  • Sit-to-stand workstation setup

  • Foot support

  • Frequently used equipment and supplies

  • Working posture

  • Frequency of position changes and movement

Recommendations are individualized rather than based solely on a standard workstation setup.

Industrial and Non-Office Ergonomics

Ergonomic assessment may also be useful for physically demanding, industrial, health care, service, or other non-office occupations.

Depending on the position, assessment may consider:

  • Manual material handling

  • Repetitive tasks

  • Reaching and overhead work

  • Workstation or bench height

  • Tool design and positioning

  • Force requirements

  • Awkward or sustained postures

  • Frequent bending, crouching, or kneeling

  • Work organization

  • Placement of materials and equipment

  • Opportunities to reduce unnecessary physical demands

Observation of the actual job tasks can help identify practical changes that may reduce physical strain while maintaining the essential requirements of the job.

Ergonomics and Return to Work

Ergonomic assessment can be particularly useful when an individual is returning to work following injury or illness.

Assessment may help identify:

  • Workstation changes required before return to work

  • Equipment that may support work participation

  • Task modifications

  • Alternative work methods

  • Positioning strategies

  • Opportunities for gradual progression of work demands

  • Barriers that may interfere with a sustainable return to work

Where appropriate, ergonomic findings can be integrated with return-to-work planning, functional assessment, or Job Demands Analysis.

Equipment and Workstation Recommendations

Recommendations may range from simple adjustments to changes in equipment or work processes.

Depending on the findings, recommendations may include:

  • Adjustment of existing equipment

  • Alternative chair or seating features

  • Monitor arms or risers

  • Keyboard or mouse alternatives

  • Footrests

  • Sit-to-stand equipment

  • Headsets

  • Document holders

  • Changes to work surface height

  • Repositioning of tools or materials

  • Task rotation or changes in work organization

  • Modified techniques for completing specific tasks

  • Other adaptive equipment

Whenever possible, recommendations prioritize practical changes using existing equipment before additional equipment is recommended.