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If your team spends most of the day at a desk, an ergonomic assessment cork can identify problems with posture, seating and workstation setup before they turn into ongoing discomfort. Many Cork businesses are unclear on exactly what this involves or when one should be considered, so it helps to start with the basics before deciding whether one is needed for your team.
What is a workplace ergonomic assessment?
An ergonomic assessment reviews how an employee’s workstation is set up, covering their chair, desk height, screen position and general posture, to identify anything that could be causing discomfort or increasing the risk of strain over time.
The assessment usually results in specific, practical recommendations, from adjusting an existing chair correctly to suggesting a different piece of furniture where the current setup is not suitable for the person using it.
Who should have an ergonomic assessment?
Anyone who spends long periods of their working day at a screen-based workstation can benefit from an assessment, particularly if they have raised concerns about discomfort, back or neck pain, or general fatigue during the working day.
Employers also commission assessments proactively, as part of general workplace wellbeing, rather than only after a problem has already been raised.
What happens during an assessment?
A workplace ergonomic assessment typically involves reviewing the employee’s current setup in person, checking chair height and support, desk height, screen position and distance, and how the employee is actually sitting and working day to day.
Following this review, the assessor provides recommendations, which may be as simple as an adjustment to existing furniture or may involve suggesting different seating or equipment better suited to the individual.
Employer responsibilities for screen-based workstations
Employers in Ireland have a general responsibility for the health and safety of staff who work at screen-based workstations, and workplace ergonomic assessments are a practical way of supporting that responsibility while genuinely reducing the risk of discomfort for employees.
Rather than treating this as a one-off task, many Cork employers are building ergonomic assessments into their regular approach to staff wellbeing and workplace safety. For specific legal guidance on your obligations, it is worth speaking with a qualified health and safety advisor.
Signs your team might benefit from an assessment
- Staff reporting ongoing back, neck or wrist discomfort
- Increased sick leave linked to workstation-related strain
- Desks and chairs that have not been reviewed since they were first set up
- A recent move to new premises or a change in working arrangements
- No previous ergonomic assessment having been carried out for the team
Why choose one company for assessment and furniture
Some businesses have an assessment carried out by one provider and then have to search separately for furniture that matches the recommendations. This can lead to delays, and in some cases, furniture that does not fully match what was actually recommended.
Having the same company carry out the assessment and supply any furniture needed means recommendations are followed through consistently, with one point of contact from the initial review through to delivery.
Building assessments into your wider wellbeing approach
Rather than treating an ergonomic assessment as a one-off task, many Cork employers are building it into a wider approach to staff wellbeing, alongside general health and safety practices already in place.
This is particularly relevant for teams that have grown, moved premises, or shifted to more flexible working patterns in recent years, where existing furniture and workstation setups may no longer suit how people are actually working.
What happens after the assessment: recommendations and furniture
Once an assessment is complete, recommendations can be acted on straight away. Where new seating, desking or accessories are recommended, having the same company carry out the assessment and supply the furniture means recommendations can be followed through without a separate search for suitable products.
Houston Office carries out workplace ergonomic assessments for Cork businesses and can supply any furniture recommended as a result, working from assessment through to delivery as a single point of contact.
What a good assessment should cover
- Chair height, support and adjustability
- Desk height and available legroom
- Screen height, distance and position
- Keyboard and mouse position relative to the body
- General posture and any discomfort already being experienced
Assessments for teams of any size
Ergonomic assessments are not only relevant to large organisations. Smaller Cork businesses benefit just as much, particularly where a team has grown quickly or moved into a new space without a full review of how workstations were set up.
Whether it is a single employee raising a concern or a wider review across a whole team, the same assessment process applies, with recommendations tailored to what is actually found rather than a generic checklist applied to everyone regardless of role or setup.
Frequently asked questions
What is a workplace ergonomic assessment?
It is a review of an employee’s workstation, chair, desk and posture, aimed at identifying issues and providing practical recommendations to improve comfort and reduce the risk of strain.
Who needs an ergonomic assessment in Cork?
Anyone who spends significant time at a screen-based workstation can benefit, particularly those who have raised concerns about discomfort or fatigue during the working day.
What happens during an ergonomic assessment?
An assessor reviews the employee’s current workstation setup in person and provides specific recommendations based on what they observe.
Is an ergonomic assessment a legal requirement in Ireland?
Employers have a general responsibility for the health and safety of staff working at screen-based workstations, and an ergonomic assessment is a practical way of supporting that responsibility. For specific legal guidance, businesses should consult a qualified health and safety advisor.
Can Houston Office supply furniture based on assessment recommendations?
Yes. Houston Office can supply furniture recommended as part of an ergonomic assessment, working from assessment through to delivery as a single point of contact. Request a consultation to book an assessment.