The case for conducting ergonomic risk assessments in the office
The makeup of the American workforce is changing, and these changes have not made physical work any easier. Employees are older, obesity rates continue to climb, and across many industries employers find it difficult to hire workers with the same level of physical conditioning that may have been common a generation ago.
Against this backdrop, the challenges of the workplace continue. Repetitive tasks, lengthy hours at desks, and physically demanding roles in warehouses and light manufacturing facilities all place significant stress on the body. This leads to an increased risk of musculoskeletal injuries, which can develop gradually but may lead to long-lasting consequences.
While many businesses associate ergonomics with manufacturing floors or warehouses, every workplace can benefit from evaluating how work is performed and how it impacts the human body.
Workforce injuries are among the most common, costly workplace health issues. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics state that more than 500,000 musculoskeletal injuries each year are serious enough to result in time away from work. These account for nearly 30% of all serious workplace injury and illness cases, making them one of the leading causes of lost productivity and employee downtime. They are not necessarily caused by a single incident but by cumulative strain including repetitive motion, awkward postures, excessive force, or prolonged inactivity. The good news is that many musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace are preventable. Ergonomic assessments are designed to identify and reduce these types of workplace risks.
In many cases, companies pursue an ergonomic assessment only after a problem arises — an employee injury, a workers’ compensation claim, or repeated complaints of discomfort. But the more proactive approach is recognizing that prevention is far less costly than treatment. At the same time, many organizations are investing in process improvement engineers to conduct time studies, optimize space utilization, and implement automation initiatives focused on labor savings and return on investment.
However, ergonomic assessments serve a different purpose: rather than reducing labor, they focus on fully utilizing the existing workforce by improving how work is performed.
A risk assessment is both practical and observational. It could begin by carefully identifying high-risk tasks in the workplace, including jobs involving repetitive movements, prolonged sitting or standing, heavy lifting, or awkward positioning. Depending on the organization, this responsibility may fall to a dedicated EHS (Environmental, Health, Safety) manager or be part of a dual-role position. The assessment itself can range from highly sophisticated biomechanical analysis of tasks to more straightforward identification of ergonomic risk factors, but in all cases, the goal is to create safer, more sustainable work environments that support long-term productivity.
What would an ergonomic risk assessment look like for a business?
After identifying high-risk tasks, assessors observe employees performing their work in real time, to gain a clear understanding of how tasks are actually carried out day to day.
What follows next is a detailed analysis of physical demands. Assessors examine factors such as posture, force, repetition, and duration. In an office, that could include chair support, the height of monitors, and keyboard placement. In a warehouse, it may involve examining lifting techniques, the distance required for reaching material distances, and workflow design.
Many assessments incorporate standardized tools and scoring systems to quantify risk levels and prioritize improvements. This helps organizations focus on the most critical issues first, rather than attempting to fix everything at once.
From there, the assessment shifts to solutions. Some are straightforward, such as adjusting the workstation, improving lighting, or providing better seating. Others may involve redesigning workflows, introducing assistive equipment, or automating repetitive tasks.
An additional important component here is education. Workers must learn and understand how to perform tasks safely, and why these recommended changes matter.
A risk assessment should not be a one-time exercise. The most effective programs include ongoing monitoring, employee feedback, and continuous improvement as roles and environments evolve.
Some businesses handle these assessments internally, but many turn to outside specialists for a more comprehensive approach. Industry organizations such as Economic Assist Systems and Equipment (EASE) part of MHI work with businesses across many industries to evaluate ergonomic risks, manual material handling and recommend practical, data-driven solutions.
Partnering with a specialist can provide both a road map and a level of objectivity that is difficult to achieve internally. However, whether a company uses an outside organization or handles internally, this is a very worthwhile practice.
An ergonomic risk assessment is more than just an exercise in compliance or injury prevention. It is also a means to align the workplace with the capabilities of today’s workforce: reducing strain, improving comfort, and enabling employees to perform at their best.
In a business environment where productivity and retention are increasingly tied to employee well-being, it is a smart investment.
• John Costello is CEO of Cherry’s Industrial Equipment, cherrysind.com, a Roselle-based company that designs and builds equipment that improves worker safety and company efficiency.