Why Employers Should Prioritise Workplace Ergonomics

Workplace ergonomics plays an important role in protecting employee health, making it a key consideration for employers across a variety of industries. Whether employees work in an office, from home, or in a hybrid role, poorly designed workstations can contribute to a range of physical health issues. Problems such as back pain, neck strain, musculoskeletal disorders, and repetitive strain injuries can occur if workstations are not correctly set up to support employees.

By prioritising workplace ergonomics, employers can create a safer and more supportive working environment while helping to reduce the risk of work-related injuries. We explain why workplace ergonomics should be a priority for every organisation, what is assessed during an ergonomic assessment, and how the assessment process works.

The Importance of Workplace Ergonomics

With employees often spending several hours a day working at desks, computers, or fixed workstations, the impact of an unsuitable workspace can build over time. Without the right ergonomic setup, employees can experience discomfort, reduced productivity, and an increased risk of work-related injuries.

Providing employees with an ergonomically suitable workspace helps to improve employee comfort, reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders, and support long-term wellbeing. It also helps employees to work comfortably and more efficiently, benefiting both individuals and the wider organisation.

Improve Posture and Reduce Musculoskeletal Strain

Poor workstation setups can place unnecessary strain on the body, increasing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), including back pain, neck pain, shoulder discomfort, and repetitive strain injuries. These issues often develop gradually due to prolonged poor posture or repetitive movements. Ergonomic assessments identify these risks and recommend adjustments to support better posture, helping employees work more comfortably while reducing physical strain.

Optimise Workstation Setup for Greater Comfort

Correctly positioning desks, chairs, monitors, keyboards, and other equipment can make a significant difference to employee comfort throughout the working day. Adjustments such as ensuring monitors are at eye level, chairs provide adequate support, and keyboards are positioned correctly, help reduce unnecessary reaching and awkward postures. A well-designed workstation enables employees to work more comfortably and maintain productivity for longer.

Support Eye Health, Wellbeing and Productivity

Employees who spend long periods using display screen equipment can also experience eye strain, headaches, and mental fatigue. Ergonomic assessments consider factors such as monitor height, viewing distance, screen glare, and lighting to help create a more comfortable working environment. By reducing visual discomfort alongside physical strain, employers can support employee wellbeing, improve concentration, and reduce the risk of work-related absence.

Areas Reviewed During an Ergonomic Assessment

An ergonomic assessment evaluates how an employee interacts with their workstation and daily working environment to identify any factors that could contribute to discomfort or injury. The aim is to ensure the workstation is correctly set up to support good posture, reduce unnecessary strain, and create a safer, more comfortable working environment.

At Precision Health, our ergonomic assessments consider workstation setup, posture, equipment positioning, and working habits to understand how employees interact with their working environment. This helps identify practical adjustments that improve comfort, reduce physical strain, and lower the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

Workstation Setup

The assessor will review the overall workstation layout to ensure it supports good posture throughout the working day. This includes checking desk height, chair position, available legroom, and whether frequently used items are positioned within easy reach. Any parts of the workstation that may contribute to unnecessary stretching, twisting, or awkward positioning will be identified, with recommendations provided to improve comfort.

Chair, Monitor and Equipment Positioning

An ergonomic assessment also focuses on how key equipment is positioned. The assessor will check whether the chair provides appropriate support and whether the monitor is at the correct height and viewing distance to minimise neck strain. Keyboard and mouse placement will also be assessed to ensure employees can work with relaxed shoulders, supported wrists, and natural arm positioning, reducing the risk of repetitive strain injuries.

Working Habits and Individual Requirements

Assessors will also discuss how employees work throughout the day, including posture, movement, task duration, and the frequency of breaks. Individual requirements, existing health conditions, or previous musculoskeletal concerns may also be considered. This allows recommendations to be tailored to each employee, helping create a safer and more comfortable working environment.

The Steps Involved in an Ergonomic Assessment

An ergonomic assessment is designed to identify any factors that may be contributing to an employee's discomfort or musculoskeletal strain. Assessments can be carried out either in person or remotely, depending on an organisation's requirements and where their employees are based. Each assessment is completed by an experienced assessor, ensuring recommendations are tailored to each employee's role, working environment, and their individual needs. 

• Initial Assessment - The assessment begins with a review of the employee's workstation, daily working routine, and any areas where they may be experiencing discomfort. The assessor will observe how the employee interacts with their workstation to understand their current setup and working habits.

• Workstation Review and Recommendations - The assessor will evaluate key elements of the workstation, including the chair, desk, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and overall posture. Any factors that may contribute to discomfort or increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders will be identified, with recommendations provided to improve the setup.

• Report and Ongoing Support - Following the assessment, a detailed report outlining the findings and recommended adjustments will be provided. This gives both employers and employees clear guidance on improving the workstation, with follow-up support available where further adjustments or reviews are required.

Ergonomic Assessments at Precision Health 

At Precision Health, we provide ergonomic assessments for organisations across Ireland, helping businesses create safer, healthier, and more comfortable working environments. Our experienced assessors work with organisations of all sizes and across a wide range of industries, identifying workstation risks and providing practical recommendations.

Our ergonomic assessments can be carried out either in person or remotely, making it easy to support office-based, hybrid, and remote employees. Following every assessment, we provide tailored recommendations to help optimise workstation setup and encourage healthier working habits. To learn more about our ergonomic assessments, contact Precision Health today. Complete our online contact form, call +3531 910 4024, or email support@precisionhealth.ie.