Ergonomic Workstation Assessments: Are they truly worth the investment?

Ergonomic workstation assessments are a service we, at Exercise for Recovery, regularly conduct for employers and are a common practice for companies/organisations who have staff regularly using desktop computers/laptops and other electronic devices. But is the financial investment worth the service outcome? Well, the answer depends on what your ergonomic assessment provider actually provides in their service.

Traditionally, ergonomic workstation assessments have included a general setup of the workstation to ensure that the workstation is tailored to the needs of the individual staff member (ie. adjustments to desk height, low back support of the chair, monitor height). In some cases the provider may also provide the staff member some generic ‘desk based stretches’ to complete with the intention of reduce the risk of injuries/symptoms for the future. The problem with this form of ergonomic assessment is that research shows that ergonomic interventions alone (ie. workstation adjustments, ergonomic equipment provisions) generally will not result in pain/symptom resolution, which is of course our main goal. Sydney University Professor Chris Maher’s quote sums up the research perfectly in relation to back pain, “People still think about fancy chairs, fancy desks. If you’re going to invest in trying to cut back pain, your best bet is to do … exercises. That’s the only thing that’s got evidence for it.” Surprising right? Considering you have all probably been given the spiel about how ergonomic assessments will stop your employees from workplace injuries. The problem with these type of limited assessments is that there is a missing link, the missing piece of the puzzle which gives individuals the best chance of resolving their symptoms.

That missing link is exercise intervention! The reality is that as ergonomic assessment providers we can make all the ergonomic adjustments and recommendations we like, but without specifically treating the condition the pain/symptoms will often continue to recur. This is why so many ergonomic assessments within the industry are actually staff who have had multiple previous assessments, which as an organisation should be ringing alarm bells.

So what is the solution? The answer is the evolution of current ergonomic assessment practices to include individualised exercises for the staff member within the assessment. This should involve an appropriately qualified allied health professional who is trained in exercise prescription for injuries/conditions (best suited are generally Exercise Physiologists and/or Physiotherapists). In short the assessment should involve ergonomic assessment, ergonomic intervention/adjustments, as well as exercise intervention/further recommendations to the staff member for symptom resolution (ie. exercises, lifestyle modifications). Many companies complete this service in house and have a designated OHS representative (sometimes not even an OHS related staff member) to complete the ‘tick and flick’ basic assessments which will ensure text book heights/positions/postures for the staff member at the desk. However, as humans we are extremely complex and different, so the ‘tick and flick’ approach is an entry level risk management intervention which companies can complete themselves, but an extra layer of intervention and care is required for staff with specific symptoms.

At Exercise for Recovery we pride ourselves on being innovative and pioneers in this sense, and our vision is to educate, inspire and empower individuals to be the happiest and healthiest version of themselves, so that we don’t have to regularly see the same staff for ‘ergonomic adjustments’ which are not only financially wasteful for the company but also encourages dependency of the ergonomic assessor to ‘fix their workstation’ which should never be the case. Instead we should be educating them within the assessment and providing meaningful exercise/lifestyle interventions so that they have the knowledge to look after themselves thereafter. This empowers the staff member and breeds an independent and happier workforce as well as allowing these funds to be reallocated to other health and well-being interventions.

So, the answer to the question is yes, ergonomic workstation assessments are definitely worth the financial investment if the assessments include ergonomic adjustments/intervention as well as individualised exercises/lifestyle modifications.

Reference: https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/a-difficult-position-experts-question-whether-ergonomics-holds-up-20180910-p502w5.html