VIC PD: Office workstation assessments – helpful or harmful?
Ethics, empathy, evidence, education in individual ergonomics assessments

A high profile article in the Sunday Age a few years ago criticized ergonomics on several fronts, one example presented being a workstation ergonomics assessment (conducted by an exercise physiologist who was not identified as a member of HFESA) which resulted in exacerbating a worker’s injuries, according to the article. HFESA’s main response has been to improve our media communications, but there has been no systematic review of what is being dished up to employees in the name of ergonomics, or actions to improve ergonomic assessments.

Mark Hennessy was asked by HFESA at the Annual Conference at Lancemore in November 2022 to prepare a draft Code of Ethics.  This presentation broadens that perspective to the wider needs of those people who are being provided with ergonomic assessments.  The reason for the focus on individual workstation assessments is that they directly affect individual workers, and therefore have direct implications for personal privacy, dignity, respect and health that technical ergonomic projects do not necessarily involve.

This is intended to be a conversation starter, working towards a HFESA internal publication like a white paper or a practice note, with a planned face to face workshop at the 2023 HFESA Conference in Adelaide in November. The process is aimed initially at CPEs, but includes less experienced ergonomists who are carrying out ergonomic workstation assessments (including members of other professions).

Expect a lively, sharp presentation from Mark, who will pull no punches and take no prisoners. You will gain some good practical tips.

Presenter Bio

Mark Hennessy B Sc (Hons), Grad Dip Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Master of Public Health, Certified Professional Ergonomist, was founding chair of the Professional Affairs Board of HFESA, and has been teaching and/or practicing ergonomics full-time for four decades. He was co-author of WorkSafe Victoria publications Designing Workplaces for Safer Handling of People, and Transferring People Safely, and won the Ken Provins award for his HFESA presentation on these topics in Cairns in 2004. He is Director of Hennessy Services Pty Ltd, Public Health and Safety Consultants. markhennessy@bigpond.com

“Practitioner Report: Ethics, etiquette, empathy, evidence in office workstation assessments”

When: Thursday 29 June 2023 from 1:00  – 2:00 pm AEST

This PD event will be delivered via Zoom.  Registration is required.
To register please click here. Details of how to attend the event will be sent to you once you have registered.

Cost: Free for HFESA members (please log in first), $30 for non HFESA members

PD event hosted by HFESA Vic Branch.

This PD event can be counted towards continuing professional development points.