Digital Ergonomic Assessments for the Home Office During the COVID-19 Crisis.

COVID-19 presents an unprecedented challenge for us as a community. Specifically close to our heart is the challenge it is going to present for employers to continue to protect the health and wellbeing of their employees whilst they are working from home.

We have been protecting the health of Australian office workers for 7 years, during which time we have performed over 3000 ergonomic assessments for employers and their employees. 

To help employers with this burden we are offering our ergonomic services online, to ensure all employees can receive the expert advice that they need to set up their home office in the safest and most comfortable manner.If you need assistance with any home office ergonomic equipment, you can view our recommended equipment here.

Watch the online seminar presented by Jordan Lees on OHS/WHS obligations for employers with employees working from home.

COVID-19 Services Offered

During the COVID-19 working-from-home-saga, we are offering the following services to assist our clients to continue to meet their OHS obligations and maximise comfort for employees:

• Ergonomic and OHS/WHS Consulting
• Working From Home Staff Education Package (videos, photos and checklists)
• Level 1 Online Home Office Ergonomic Assessments (preventative)
• Level 2 Online Home Office Ergonomic Assessments (reactive, for injured employees)

Please scroll down the page to find information on each respective service.

Ergonomic and OHS/WHS Consulting

The Director of The Ergonomic Physio, Jordan Lees, is available to organisations for tailored ergonomic and OHS/WHS consulting to suit the specific requirements of their workforce. Jordan is a Lawyer and Occupational Physiotherapist, and assists clients all over Australia with their OHS/WHS needs. 

Jordan's advice will help to ensure that organisations: 

• Continue to meet your OHS/WHS obligations towards your employees whilst they are working from home.
• Make the relevant changes to existing OHS/WHS Policies and Procedures to encompass working from home. 
• Have an effective working from home heath and safety checklist in place.
• Have best practice incident and injury management protocols in place whilst staff are working from home. 

​For more information please contact us at info@theergonomicphysio.com.au or call (03) 9088 2003. 

Working From Home Staff Education Package

This is the most cost-effective solution for employers wanting to continue to meet their OHS obligations towards their employees who are now working from home. The Working From Home Staff Education package provides employees with all of the information they need to set up their home office in the most ergonomically friendly and comfortable way, using the equipment available to them at home.

Includes:
​

• Video tutorial – office desk ergonomic assessment and desk set up.
• Video tutorial – home office ergonomic assessment/desk set up and tips.
• Photograph series showing changes that can be made to a typical home office set up to improve posture and comfort.
• Photograph series and information highlighting the problems with working from the couch.
• Injury prevention information to ensure your employees are empowered to take control of their own health whilst working from home. 
• Stretches and exercises to prevent overuse injuries from occurring. 
• Ergonomic checklist and diagram for a seated workstation.
• Ergonomic checklist and diagram for a standing workstation.

The main difference between this package and an online ergonomic assessment (below) is that employees do not get one-on-one time with one of our consultants. 

Cost:

• $14.50 + gst per employee. Please contact us for a custom quote if you have a large organisation, as a bulk discount may apply. 

To Book:

• Please email info@theergonomicphysio.com.au or call (03) 9088 2003 and let us know the number of employees you have. Alternatively, you can purchase the required number directly at this link. Each employee will receive a unique code that will enable them to access the material. 

Level 1 Home Office Ergonomic Assessments

Our level 1 online assessments are suitable for the majority of people. Only those with a pre-existing injury or musculoskeletal pain require a level 2 assessment. 

Our experienced ergonomists (physiotherapist or osteopath) will advise each employee how to best set up their home office, as well as provide advice and tips to reduce the risk of injury and musculoskeletal discomfort. We will also inform you (the employer) if we feel your employee requires any specific equipment.

Level 1 assessments include:

• One-on-one 20-30 minute online ergonomic assessment and discussion with one of our expert ergonomics consultants. 
  • During this assessment we will be able to advise each employee how to best set up their home workstation using the equipment that they have available. 
  • We will also educate each employee how to best prevent musculoskeletal pain or injury from developing. 
  • We will identify “high-risk” employees and provide this feedback to you as the employer. 

 

• Follow up online consultation 2 days after initial assessment.
  • This follow up consultation will enable us to ensure that each employee has responded well to their new workstation set up (very important because the home office is likely a new environment for most people).
  • We will also be able to make further recommendations to each employee based on how they respond over the first 2 days.

 

• Each employee will have unlimited email contact directly with us for 1 month after their assessment. 
  • Any musculoskeletal issues are likely to occur within the first month of working in a new working environment, as new physical stresses gradually accumulate. We want to offer as much support as possible during this period. Employees can contact us directly with their questions between 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday, and we will respond within 1 business day. We will "cc" the employer in to all emails so you can monitor the health of your employees (which is an OHS obligation).

 

• Exclusive access to our online Working From Home Employee Education kit which includes:
  • Video tutorial – office desk ergonomic assessment and desk set up.
  • Video tutorial – home office ergonomic assessment/desk set up and tips.
  • Photograph series showing changes that can be made to a typical home office set up to improve posture and comfort.
  • Photograph series and information highlighting the problems with working from the couch.
  • Injury prevention information to ensure your employees are empowered to take control of their own health whilst working from home. 
  • Stretches and exercises to prevent overuse injuries from occurring. 
  • Ergonomic checklist and diagram for a seated workstation.
  • Ergonomic checklist and diagram for a standing workstation.

Assessment method:

• Online, by Zoom, Skype or video call.

Cost:

• $60 + gst

To Book:

• Please email info@theergonomicphysio.com.au or call (03) 9088 2003 and provide the number of assessments required and the name and contact number for each employee to be assessed. We will provide you with a booking form for you to book each employee into a time slot.

Level 2 Home Office Ergonomic Assessments

Level 2 online ergonomic assessments are for those who have a pre-existing injury. The key difference between the level 1 and level 2 assessments is that level assessments come with a detailed report. Our level 2 assessments are tailored according to the presenting condition, are more in-depth than the brief ergonomic assessments above, and include a detailed report to the employer for health and safety records. 

Level 2 assessments include:

• One-on-one 30-40 minute online ergonomic assessment and discussion with one of our expert ergonomics consultants. 
  • During this in-depth assessment we will be able to take a thorough history of the employees' presenting symptoms and discuss the injury in detail. 
  • We will be able to advise each employee how to best set up their home workstation using the equipment that they have available. 
  • We will also provide education about working behaviours and tips to prevent exacerbation of the current injury or onset of new problems.

 

• A detailed report will be provided to the employer listing our findings, opinion and any recommendations that we have (i.e. equipment).

 

• Follow up online consultation 2 days after initial assessment.
  • This follow up consultation will enable us to ensure that each employee has responded well to their new workstation set up (very important because the home office is likely a new environment for most people). 
  • We will also be able to make further recommendations to each employee based on how they respond over the few 2 days.

 

• A second follow up online consultation 1 week after the first follow up consultation.
  • This second follow up is necessary for those who are injured to ensure that their pre-existing injury has not regressed now that they are working in a new environment. 

 

• Each employee will have unlimited email contact directly with us for 1 month after their assessment. 
  • Any musculoskeletal issues are likely to occur within the first month of working in a new working environment, as new physical stresses gradually accumulate. We want to offer as much support as possible during this period. Employees can contact us directly with their questions between 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday, and we will respond within 1 business day. We will "cc" the employer in to all emails so you can monitor the health of your employees (which is an OHS obligation).

​

• Exclusive access to our online Working From Home Employee Education kit which includes:
  • Video tutorial – office desk ergonomic assessment and desk set up.
  • Video tutorial – home office ergonomic assessment/ desk set up and tips.
  • Photograph series showing changes that can be made to a typical home office set up to improve posture and comfort.
  • Photograph series and information highlighting the problems with working from the couch.
  • Injury prevention information to ensure your employees are empowered to take control of their own health whilst working from home. 
  • Stretches and exercises to prevent overuse injuries from occurring. 
  • Ergonomic checklist and diagram for a seated workstation.
  • Ergonomic checklist and diagram for a standing workstation.

Assessment method:

• Online, by Zoom, Skype or video call.

​
Cost:

• $220 + gst

​
To Book:

• Please email info@theergonomicphysio.com.au or call (03) 9088 2003 and provide the name and contact number for each employee to be assessed. We will then contact the employee to arrange a suitable time for their assessment. We will forward the report directly to your nominated HR or OHS team leader.

Our Recommended Equipment for your Home Office

To ensure your home office is set up with the best practices whilst you are working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have put together a list of our recommended ergonomic equipment. These products are the items that we use ourselves, as well as recommend to all of our clients.

Click here to view.

Some of our valued clients: