Improving safety in the workplace with an ergonomics assessment

Every year, more than 4 million Americans are injured in the workplace. When thinking of workplace injuries, many people think of physically demanding jobs, such as manual labor in a factory or on a farm. While injury is certainly a possibility in these settings, it is also very common in office spaces.

Whether you work in a factory or an office, you can benefit from improvements to your work environment to help reduce your chances of pain and injuries. One way to do this is to schedule an ergonomics assessment with a physical therapist.

What is an ergonomics assessment?

An ergonomics assessment is a service offered by physical therapists to identify potential hazards in your workplace environment and your work habits. During an ergonomics assessment, your physical therapist may visit your workplace and assess your environment or make recommendations based on your description. They may also have you demonstrate how you perform your duties, such as demonstrating sitting posture or how you pick up objects on the ground.

The goals of an ergonomic assessment include:

Assessing your work environment, such as machines you operate or the chair you use at a desk
Identifying how your environment affects your bones, joints, muscles and soft tissue
Identifying how the way you perform your duties affects your bones, joints, muscles and soft tissue
Developing solutions to correct issues in your workplace environment and the way you perform your duties

How does an ergonomics assessment improve workplace safety?

An ergonomics assessment identifies the potential threats to your health in your environment and your performance. You can greatly reduce your chances of receiving an injury at work by addressing these threats with potential solutions for prevention.

This is beneficial for employees who do not want to get hurt and miss out on work and have their home life affected as well. This is also beneficial for employers who want to keep their employees safe and continue successfully operating a business.

Visit Advent Physical Therapy today for an ergonomics assessment

Are you interested in improving your personal workplace safety or that of your employees? Our physical therapists at Advent Physical Therapy are highly skilled in performing an ergonomics assessment to address potential causes of pain and injury in the workplace. Contact our team today for more information about an ergonomics assessment or to schedule an initial appointment.

When I think of Advent Physical Therapy, people come to mind: compassionate, professional, friendly people who help me to gain strength and to overcome limitations in range of motion. I wholeheartedly recommend Advent Physical Therapy, particularly in Jenison, where I’ve had all my therapy sessions since moving to this area.

Betty S

What should I expect during an ergonomics evaluation with my physical therapist?

Simply treating the signs and symptoms of an injury won’t necessarily prevent the injury from recurring again and again, at least not until the factors leading to the issue are identified and addressed. This is why an ergonomics evaluation is so critical for both symptom resolution and injury prevention.

Here’s what you can expect when you come to our physical therapy clinic for an assessment:
One of our therapists will thoroughly evaluate your body, your current and past medical history, and your home and/or work environment. We’ll ask you about the set-up of your desk or office, the type of tools and equipment you use, the expectations and demands of your job, and a summary of your typical day. While it’s great to see you in your actual environment, we can also simulate or recreate certain tasks or set-ups in order to get a clearer idea of the nature of your work and your general capacity for performing such work.

Based on all this information, we’ll be able to educate you on certain strategies that can help you manage your health better in your environment. When it comes to ergonomics, our focus is on improving posture, energy efficiency, and body mechanics (the way you move), as well as making necessary adjustments, modifications, and changes to reduce and prevent further pain and injury. We may recommend adjusting the position of your computer monitor, for example, or teach you how to implement a more frequent rest break policy so that you’re not sitting at your desk all day. We may also recommend specialized devices or equipment modifications, such as splints or wrist supports, that can help you perform your typical work duties with greater physical safety and comfort.

In addition to ergonomics training, we’ll likely provide you with other physical therapy services to address your symptoms, including therapeutic exercises, joint mobilizations, and modalities such as electrical stimulation or cryotherapy.

Have you been injured at work, at home, or during your favorite sport or leisure activity? Contact Us Today at Grand Rapids, Hastings, Jenison, Grandville, Byron Center Kentwood & Walker, MI Centers to schedule an appointment with an experienced physical therapist. We’re ready to help you feel and move better, no matter where life takes you!