Beyond the checklist

A standard ergonomic workstation assessment typically involves someone checking chair height, desk height, and monitor position against a set of general guidelines. It takes 20 minutes, produces a short report, and often results in minor adjustments that make little lasting difference to the worker's comfort or health.

This approach misses the point. Workstation-related discomfort and injury do not arise solely from incorrect equipment positioning. They arise from the interaction between a person's physical and health history, their movement habits, the cognitive and emotional demands of their work, their work environment, and the physical setup of their workstation. Address only one of these factors and you are unlikely to resolve the problem.

Edser Health's approach to ergonomic workstation assessment is led by qualified occupational therapists who are trained to assess all of these dimensions together. The result is a genuinely individualised assessment that identifies the real causes of discomfort and produces recommendations that actually work.

What a comprehensive assessment covers

Each element of our assessment is informed by the others. This is what distinguishes a thorough clinical assessment from a workstation checklist.

Comprehensive medical and health history

We begin with a thorough understanding of the worker's health history, including any existing conditions, previous injuries, medications, and relevant personal health factors. Most ergonomic assessments skip this step entirely. We do not, because a workstation that works well for one person may not be appropriate for another with different physical or health considerations.

Posture and movement analysis

We observe how the worker actually sits, moves, and performs their tasks — not just how their equipment is positioned. Poor posture patterns are often habitual and may persist regardless of workstation changes unless they are identified and addressed directly. Our clinicians are trained to assess movement quality, muscle tension, and compensatory patterns that point to deeper issues.

Physical workstation evaluation

We assess the full physical setup: desk height and depth, chair adjustability and support, monitor height and distance, keyboard and mouse positioning, lighting, and any other equipment relevant to the role. Recommendations are specific, practical, and prioritised so organisations know what to address first.

Cognitive load and task demands

Cognitive overload and underload are real contributors to physical discomfort at work, and they are rarely considered in a standard ergonomic assessment. A worker under significant cognitive pressure holds their body differently. A worker who is understimulated may adopt poor postural habits out of boredom or disengagement. We factor both into our assessment.

Psychosocial and environmental factors

Workplace stress, interpersonal dynamics, noise levels, temperature, lighting, and the broader environment all influence how a worker holds and uses their body. We do not assess workstations in a vacuum. We look at the full context in which the person is working, because lasting improvements depend on understanding that context.

Individualised recommendations

Every assessment concludes with a written report of findings and recommendations that are specific to that individual and their role. We do not produce generic reports. Recommendations are ranked by priority, explained clearly, and designed to be actionable — for both the worker and the organisation.

Why this approach produces better outcomes

Musculoskeletal disorders cost Australian employers significantly in workers compensation claims, lost productivity, and staff turnover. The frustrating reality is that many of these costs are preventable — but only if the assessment process is thorough enough to identify what is actually causing the problem.

A worker who develops chronic neck pain is rarely suffering because their monitor is 5 centimetres too low. They may be holding tension in their neck because of high cognitive demands, an interpersonal stressor with a colleague, anxiety about their workload, or an old injury that has changed the way they habitually hold their body. Moving the monitor may provide temporary relief. Addressing the real cause produces lasting improvement.

Our occupational therapists are trained to identify and articulate these connections. The written report produced at the end of each assessment reflects this depth, providing not just a list of equipment adjustments but a genuine clinical understanding of what is driving discomfort and what needs to change.

Standard approach

Checklist-based evaluation
Focuses on equipment positioning only
Generic recommendations
No consideration of health history
No posture or movement analysis
Does not address psychosocial factors
Often produces little lasting change

Edser Health approach

Clinician-led assessment
Whole-person evaluation
Individualised recommendations
Comprehensive medical and health history
Posture and movement analysis
Considers cognitive and psychosocial factors
Designed to produce lasting improvement

When to book an assessment

Ergonomic workstation assessments are most valuable when they are done early and proactively, rather than after a formal injury has occurred. These are the situations where we most commonly see organisations reach out.

A worker reports discomfort, pain, or fatigue related to their workstation
A worker returns to work following an injury or medical leave
A new employee joins and needs their workstation set up correctly from the start
A worker transitions to a new role, desk, or work environment
A worker moves to a hybrid or home office arrangement
An organisation wants a proactive review of multiple workstations to reduce injury risk
A worker with a health condition or disability requires a tailored setup

Not sure if you need one?

If a worker is reporting any discomfort related to their work setup, an assessment is almost always worthwhile. Get in touch and we can talk through the situation before you commit to anything.

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Book a comprehensive ergonomic assessment

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Ergonomic workstation assessments that look at the whole person