According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), it is imperative that tasks, equipment, information and the environment fit each worker to enable safe, effective and productive work systems.
Inadequate ergonomic design can increase the risk of accidents, injuries and even fatalities. To mitigate these risks, organisations must comply with regulations such as:
- Australia: Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
- Canada: Canada Labour Code, Part II.
- European Union (EU): Council Directive 89/391/EEC (Worker Health and Safety), Council Directive 90/269/EEC (Manual Handling) and Council Directive 90/270/EEC (Display Screen Equipment).
- UK: The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992, The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
- USA: The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Section 5(a)(1).
Without proactive ergonomics expertise and ergonomics assessments, organisations are more exposed to these risks especially as work environments and technology continue to evolve.
Watch: A recording of this webinar can be found at the IHF YouTube channel.
Connect with Fabio Lemes dos Santos, C.ErgHF on LinkedIn.
An Introduction to Ergonomics Assessments Webinar Chapters
This webinar provides an introduction to ergonomics assessments, explaining how organisations can identify, analyse and control ergonomic risks. Topics include ergonomics definitions, worker risks such as musculoskeletal disorder (MSDs), regulatory requirements, financial and productivity impacts, ergonomics assessments methodologies and practical workplace improvements.
Introduction and Webinar Overview
Watch Chapter: An overview of the webinar and topics covered throughout the session. Learn what ergonomics assessments are and why they are important for health, safety and business performance.
Defining Ergonomics
Watch Chapter: What is ergonomics? This chapter explores a definition of ergonomics and explains the principle of designing work to fit people rather than expecting people to adapt to inadequately designed work environments.
Defining Ergonomic Assessment
Watch Chapter: Learn how ergonomics assessments identify, analyse and prioritise physical, cognitive and organisational risks. This section also discusses legal duties relating to ergonomic risk assessments.
Worker Risks, Workplace Injuries and MSD Statistics
Watch Chapter: Explore current workplace injury statistics, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), lost working days and the impact poor ergonomic design can have on worker health, safety and performance.
Ergonomics Regulatory Requirements
Watch Chapter: An overview of ergonomics-related legislation, including manual handling regulations, display screen equipment requirements and employer responsibilities for workplace risk management.
Financial and Productivity Impact
Watch Chapter: Understand the cost of poor ergonomics through workplace absence, presenteeism, lost productivity, work-related ill health and the financial benefits of proactive ergonomic interventions.
IHF Ergonomics Assessments Solutions
Watch Chapter: Learn about IHF’s proactive ergonomics approach and how structured ergonomics assessments programmes help organisations identify risks before injuries and incidents occur.
IHF Industry Experience and Real-World Examples
Watch Chapter: Examples from logistics, manufacturing, technology, oil and gas and other industries demonstrating how ergonomics can reduce risk, improve performance and support safer operations.
IHF Ergonomics Assessments Process
Watch Chapter: A walkthrough of the IHF ergonomics assessments process, including risk identification, analysis, root-cause investigation and the development of practical control measures.
IHF Ergonomics Assessments Benefits
Watch Chapter: Discover the benefits of IHF ergonomics programmes, including reduced injuries, improved worker well-being, productivity gains, regulatory compliance and return on investment (ROI).
Q&A: Ergonomics Assessments Tools
Watch Chapter: A discussion of ergonomics assessments tools, observational methods and how ergonomics specialists use different techniques to evaluate workplace risks.
Q&A: Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Ergonomics Assessments and Mapping
Watch Chapter: An exploration of how AI and digital technologies can support ergonomics assessments while highlighting the continuing importance of professional judgement and field observation.
Q&A: Future Workplace Ergonomics Challenges
Watch Chapter: Discussion of emerging ergonomics challenges, including hybrid working, home working, workplace design, automation and the impact of new technologies.
Q&A: The One Ergonomic Habit Everyone Should Adopt/Change
Watch Chapter: Practical advice on posture variation, movement and reducing prolonged static working positions to support musculoskeletal health and workplace well-being.
Human Factors Maturity Assessment (Haitch-F™)
Watch Chapter: An introduction to the Haitch-F Human Factors Maturity Assessment tool and how organisations can benchmark their human factors capability, identify strengths and plan future improvements.
An Introduction to Ergonomics Assessments Webinar References
European Union (1990) Council Directive 90/270/EEC of 29 May 1990 on the minimum safety and health requirements for work with display screen equipment.
Great Britain (1992) The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992. SI 1992/2792. London: HMSO.
Great Britain (1992) The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992. SI 1992/2793. London: HMSO.
Great Britain (1992) The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. SI 1992/3004. London: HMSO.
Great Britain (1998) The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. SI 1998/2306. London: HMSO.
Great Britain (1999) The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. SI 1999/3242. London: HMSO.
Health and Safety Executive (2013) Ergonomics and human factors at work: A brief guide (INDG90: rev3). Available at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg90.pdf (Accessed: 21 April 2026).
Health and Safety Executive (2025a) Work-related musculoskeletal disorders statistics in Great Britain, 2025. Available at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/assets/docs/msd.pdf (Accessed: 29 April 2026).
Health and Safety Executive (2025b) Key figures for Great Britain 2024 to 2025. Available at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overview.htm (Accessed: 21 April 2026).
International Ergonomics Association (2000) What Is Ergonomics (HFE)?. Available at: https://iea.cc/about/what-is-ergonomics (Accessed 21 April 2026).
Machado, M. (2023) ‘Impact and Benefits of Ergonomic Interventions at Workplace’, Journal of Ergonomics, 13(4), 354. Available at: https://www.longdom.org/open-access/impact-and-benefits-of-ergonomic-interventions-at-workplace.pdf
Maudgalya, T., Genaidy, A. and Shell, R. (2008) ‘Productivity–quality–costs–safety: A sustained approach to competitive advantage—a systematic review of the National Safety Council’s case studies in safety and productivity’, Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing & Service Industries, 18(2), pp. 152-179. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/hfm.20106
Rivilis, I., Van Eerd, D., Cullen, K., Cole, D.C., Irvin, E., Tyson, J. and Mahood, Q. (2008) ‘Effectiveness of participatory ergonomic interventions on health outcomes: A systematic review’, Applied Ergonomics, 39(3), pp. 342-358. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2007.08.006
United States (1970) Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Section 5(a)(1) (General Duty Clause).
Whysall, Z., Bowden, J. and Hewitt, M. (2018) ‘Sickness presenteeism: measurement and management challenges’, Ergonomics, 61(3), pp. 341-354. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2017.1365949
