By Daniel Morgan-Williams, Founding Director of Visualise Training and Consultancy
In the workplace assessment sector, a growing trend warrants careful discussion. Many providers now offer to assess for a wide range of conditions — from back pain to dyslexia to visual and hearing impairments — all under the same “workplace assessment” label.
While there is value in being versatile, the reality is that some assessments require highly specialised knowledge, current awareness of assistive technologies, and often lived experience to understand the impact of a condition on day-to-day work fully.
Visual and hearing impairment workplace assessments, for example, involve unique challenges that go beyond the scope of a generic assessment. Without specialist insight, recommendations can end up:
– Missing key accessibility barriers.
– Suggesting equipment that doesn’t meet the individual’s needs.
– Failing to address the emotional and confidence impacts of the impairment.
The challenge is that many employees, managers, and even some HR teams don’t always know the difference between a generalist and a true specialist. As a result, they may accept the first assessment offered, assuming it will cover everything — only to find that the real issues remain unresolved.
This is not about criticising other providers. Generalist workplace assessments play a crucial role and can be highly effective for various needs. However, when the assessment involves sensory impairments, it’s essential to ensure that the assessor possesses the requisite depth of expertise.
Specialist assessors can:
– Identify subtle but significant workplace barriers.
– Recommend targeted, cost-effective solutions.
– Provide training and awareness that benefits the whole team.
– Bring lived experience that builds trust and understanding.
For occupational health professionals, HR, and managers, the key takeaway is this: match the right expertise to the right need. Just as you wouldn’t expect a GP to perform complex surgery, a generalist assessor may not be the best fit for highly specialised assessments.
When it comes to enabling someone to work to their full potential — and protecting their mental wellbeing — “good enough” simply isn’t good enough.
Take Action
When an employee presents with visual or hearing loss and is struggling at work, consider referring them to a specialist workplace assessment provider. This ensures the recommendations are accurate, tailored, and effective. You can find out more and make a referral here.