Workplace services
Ergonomic Assessments
A better fit between people, tasks and the workplace.
Ergonomics combines good work habits with an environment suited to the person and the job. Qxplore provides ergonomic assessment, workstation design and physical demands analysis to help identify workplace needs and practical changes.
Choose the service that fits your question
Assessment, design and job demands
You may be reviewing an existing workstation, planning a change or documenting the demands of a particular job. These services address different parts of that process.
Ergonomic Assessment
Consider the employee and workplace together, including physical demands and human factors.
Explore ergonomic assessmentWorkstation Design
Match the workstation to employee capabilities and the tasks that need to be performed.
Explore workstation designPhysical Demands Analysis
Quantify and evaluate the physical demands of essential and non-essential job tasks.
Explore physical demands analysisHuman factors and the working environment
What is an ergonomic assessment?
An ergonomic assessment looks at both the employee and the workplace to identify a better fit. It considers the person’s capabilities, the tasks performed and the environment in which the work takes place.
The assessment considers human factors beyond physical fit, including psychological distress. Recommendations aim to support occupational health and safety, job satisfaction, productivity and product quality.
Other aims include reducing repetitive strain injury (RSI) risks, associated lost work time and medical costs, chronic pain risks and psychological distress. The appropriate changes depend on the person, job and workplace.
- Support comfort, health and safety
- Improve the match between work and the employee
- Support productivity and quality
- Address injury risks and related costs
Practical changes built around the work
Workstation Design and Implementation
This service reviews the workstation environment, job description and tasks, discusses ergonomic options with management and employees, and designs the workstation around ergonomic principles and employee capabilities.
The aim is to match the workstation to the person and the requirements of the job. For an office workstation, relevant discussion may include the examples below; the clinician will confirm what applies to your workplace.
Chair and work surface
The relationship between seating, desk or work-surface height and the employee’s working position.
Screen and input equipment
Monitor placement, keyboard and mouse position, and access to equipment used frequently.
Layout and work habits
Available space, reaching, task arrangement, posture, repetition and opportunities to vary working positions.
Understand the demands of the entire job
Physical Demands Analysis
A Physical Demands Analysis (PDA) systematically quantifies and evaluates the physical requirements of a job’s essential and non-essential tasks.
It provides objective job information to help assess compatibility between a worker and a specific role. This information can support accommodation planning in the context of the Ontario Human Rights Code. Discuss the documentation requirements for your workplace when enquiring.
When a PDA may be used
- Workplace documentation
- WSIB or workplace health-and-safety documentation requirements
- Injury and accident prevention
- As part of an ergonomic assessment
- As part of a work conditioning program
- Return-to-work planning following long-term disability
- Review
Job description
Review the role and its essential and non-essential tasks.
- Observe
Workplace and tasks
Observe the workplace and the employee performing the relevant work.
- Gather
Relevant information
Obtain workplace information from the employee and employer.
- Report
Document the findings
Provide a report describing the job demands and assessment findings.
Experience in injury, pain and workplace ergonomics
Dr. Greg Kerr has extensive experience in private practice, with an emphasis on assessment, treatment and management of injury and pain, and on helping clients make informed lifestyle and health choices. He has a particular interest in injury prevention and ergonomic assessment programs for industry and business.
He is a graduate of Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, holds a bachelor’s degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, and has a Master of Science degree in Human Nutrition/Biology from the University of Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Dr. Kerr is also an accomplished public speaker and has published health and lifestyle articles and features in newspapers and magazines.
Prepare for an enquiry
Tell us about the workplace need
Explain whether you need workstation advice, an ergonomic assessment or documentation of a job’s physical demands.
- The job, tasks and type of workstation involved
- The concern or reason for the assessment
- Available job descriptions or previous reports
- Any employer, insurer or WSIB documentation requirements
- Who will coordinate the workplace arrangements
Questions to discuss before booking
- Who will provide the service?
- What does the proposed assessment include?
- What workplace access or preparation is needed?
- Will there be a report or workstation recommendations?
- What are the fee, timing and any required approvals?
- What support is available for implementation or follow-up?
Choosing the right service
Common questions
How does ergonomic assessment differ from physical demands analysis?
An ergonomic assessment considers the fit between the employee, work and environment. A PDA documents the physical demands of the job. The services may be used together, depending on the questions being addressed.
Can management and employees both contribute?
Yes. The workstation-design service includes discussion with management and employees. A PDA also gathers relevant workplace information from the employee and employer.
Can a PDA support return-to-work planning?
Job demands information can help assess compatibility with a role and inform return-to-work discussions, including after long-term disability. Explain any insurer or WSIB requirements when enquiring.
Are office, industrial or home-office assessments available?
Describe your workplace and the tasks involved. Ask Qxplore to confirm whether the current service fits the setting and how the assessment would be arranged.
Start with your workplace questions
Discuss an ergonomic assessment
Contact Qxplore to discuss the job, workstation or physical demands information you need, and the appropriate next step.
Contact QxploreBelleville, Ontario K8N 3G1 Fax: 613-966-4265