Workplace Assessment

The goal of a workplace assessment is to gain an overview of the demands of the worker’s pre-injury duties and the availability of other suitable duties.

The task must be completed by a consultant from an approved Workplace Rehabilitation Provider (WRP) and adhere with the relevant jurisdictions guidelines (eg: SIRA NSW, Comcare etc).

At the worksite, the following are assessed:

• Physical environment
• Physical demands of pre-injury duties and possible available duties
• Mental demands of the work
• Working conditions
• Psychosocial issues at the workplace

This information is shared with the treating team to target the recovery plan towards the goal of pre-injury duties. It assists the treating doctor in certifying capacity for work.

Part of the worksite assessment includes an analysis of specific difficulties and job performance, along with recommended solutions to the most effective way of performing these duties. It may include workplace modifications and solutions to assist the worker in completing the job and avoiding aggravation. Photos and videos are often used to enable the treating doctor to gain a better understanding of the demands of the work.

There are often non-physical factors that can be addressed by performing a worksite assessment. The most significant factors in achieving return to work following injury is the effective communication and collaboration between the recovery team, including the worker, health care professionals and the workplace.

What is a Workplace Assessment?

A workplace assessment is a specialised service aimed at observing, evaluating, and reporting on the physical, environmental, and ergonomic requirements of an employee’s duties. During a session, a wide range of data about the participant is collected and analysed to develop an idea about their pre-injury duty and assess against their current capacity and prognosis.

Conducting a Workplace Assessment

The workplace assessments is usually conducted onsite and may be conducted on either an entire workplace or just a single section, to review the pre-injury duties completed and identify if any other suitable duties may be available to help the worker begin their recovery at work. 

A comprehensive report is provided to allow all stakeholders to collaborate on an effective Recover at Work plan.  

Benefits of a Workplace Assessment

• Designing an Agreeable Return to Work and Recover at Work Plan: A workplace assessment ensures that the plan fully matches employee’s progressive functional capacity. This ensures the worker’s team understand their capacity and appropriate duties during the recovery.  
• Minimize Workplace Risks: A well-carried-out workplace assessment may help identify simple modifications to duties, which assist making those roles safer for all workers.