UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
College of Economic and Management Sciences
Department of Industrial and Organisational Psychology
IOP2603
Ergonomics: People and their Work Environment
Assignment 1
Ergonomics Workstation Checklist Evaluation
Semester: Semester 1, 2026
Due Date: 23 March 2026
Module Code: IOP2603
Assessment: Assignment 1
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for IOP2603
University of South Africa · 2026
,UNISA | IOP2603 Ergonomics Checklist Assignment
Contents
1 1. Introduction 3
2 2. Purpose and Advantages of the Checklist Activity 4
3 3. Checklist Methodology 5
4 4. Completed Ergonomics Checklist 6
4.1 4.1 Desk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
4.2 4.2 Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4.3 4.3 Monitor / Visual Display Unit (VDU) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
4.4 4.4 Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.5 4.5 Keyboard and Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
4.6 4.6 Noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4.7 4.7 Temperature and Ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
5 5. Additional Suggestions for Improvement 17
5.1 5.1 Postural Variation and Microbreaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.2 5.2 Document Holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.3 5.3 Cable Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.4 5.4 Cost-Benefit Consideration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
5.5 5.5 Limitation of the Checklist Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Reference List 19
Page 2 of 19
, UNISA | IOP2603 Ergonomics Checklist Assignment
1. Introduction
An ergonomics checklist is a structured, logically ordered tool used to evaluate a workstation
or any other human-technology system. It covers all relevant areas systematically to ensure
that nothing is overlooked during an evaluation. The outcome of such an evaluation is a writ-
ten document that informs improvements to existing workstations or work environments (He-
lander, 2006).
According to Helander (2006), checklists serve two primary purposes: they function as a mem-
ory aid and as a tool for systematic data collection. This is comparable to the pre-flight check-
list used by airline pilots to confirm that all controls have been inspected before take-off.
Key Distinction
A checklist is considered a superficial technique. It is useful for initial identification
of ergonomic problems, but more detailed investigations may require additional meth-
ods such as performance measures, stress measurement, psychophysiological methods
(e.g., galvanic skin response), questionnaires, accident analyses, cognitive-abilities test-
ing, illumination measurement, human-computer interaction analyses, and information
visualisation (Helander, 2006, based on Stanton et al., 2004).
The cost-benefit ratio of any suggested improvement must always be considered. Not every
deviation from the ideal specification warrants an immediate or costly intervention.
Page 3 of 19
College of Economic and Management Sciences
Department of Industrial and Organisational Psychology
IOP2603
Ergonomics: People and their Work Environment
Assignment 1
Ergonomics Workstation Checklist Evaluation
Semester: Semester 1, 2026
Due Date: 23 March 2026
Module Code: IOP2603
Assessment: Assignment 1
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for IOP2603
University of South Africa · 2026
,UNISA | IOP2603 Ergonomics Checklist Assignment
Contents
1 1. Introduction 3
2 2. Purpose and Advantages of the Checklist Activity 4
3 3. Checklist Methodology 5
4 4. Completed Ergonomics Checklist 6
4.1 4.1 Desk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
4.2 4.2 Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4.3 4.3 Monitor / Visual Display Unit (VDU) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
4.4 4.4 Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.5 4.5 Keyboard and Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
4.6 4.6 Noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4.7 4.7 Temperature and Ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
5 5. Additional Suggestions for Improvement 17
5.1 5.1 Postural Variation and Microbreaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.2 5.2 Document Holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.3 5.3 Cable Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.4 5.4 Cost-Benefit Consideration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
5.5 5.5 Limitation of the Checklist Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Reference List 19
Page 2 of 19
, UNISA | IOP2603 Ergonomics Checklist Assignment
1. Introduction
An ergonomics checklist is a structured, logically ordered tool used to evaluate a workstation
or any other human-technology system. It covers all relevant areas systematically to ensure
that nothing is overlooked during an evaluation. The outcome of such an evaluation is a writ-
ten document that informs improvements to existing workstations or work environments (He-
lander, 2006).
According to Helander (2006), checklists serve two primary purposes: they function as a mem-
ory aid and as a tool for systematic data collection. This is comparable to the pre-flight check-
list used by airline pilots to confirm that all controls have been inspected before take-off.
Key Distinction
A checklist is considered a superficial technique. It is useful for initial identification
of ergonomic problems, but more detailed investigations may require additional meth-
ods such as performance measures, stress measurement, psychophysiological methods
(e.g., galvanic skin response), questionnaires, accident analyses, cognitive-abilities test-
ing, illumination measurement, human-computer interaction analyses, and information
visualisation (Helander, 2006, based on Stanton et al., 2004).
The cost-benefit ratio of any suggested improvement must always be considered. Not every
deviation from the ideal specification warrants an immediate or costly intervention.
Page 3 of 19
