Does a occupational medicine perform workplace ergonomic assessment?

An ergonomic assessment looks at how your workstation, tools, posture, workload, and work tasks interact. The clinician may ask about pain, numbness, fatigue, previous injuries, and when symptoms appear. They may observe you completing routine tasks, measure the position of a desk or screen, and consider lifting, reaching, repetition, force, and rest opportunities.

The outcome may include changes such as adjusting chair or monitor height, improving tool placement, varying tasks, adding brief movement breaks, or changing a lifting method. Occupational medicine may work with physiotherapy, an ergonomist, or your workplace while respecting appropriate privacy.

Contact an occupational medicine service and describe your job, the task that triggers symptoms, and any workplace injury process already under way. Keep a short record of symptom timing and bring details of your usual workstation or equipment. If permitted, photographs or a video of the work setup can help the clinician understand the task.

Do not push through worsening pain or numbness while waiting. Use any temporary adjustments recommended by your clinician and report whether they change your symptoms.

Arrange prompt medical review for new weakness, loss of coordination, persistent numbness, severe swelling, or pain after a significant workplace injury. Seek emergency care for sudden one-sided weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or severe symptoms with chest pain or breathing difficulty.

Ask which tasks may be contributing to your symptoms, what adjustments should be tried first, whether you need temporary work restrictions, and how improvement will be assessed. Clarify what information can be shared with your employer and when the workstation should be reviewed again.