On 2 and 3 October 2025, the KOS Ergonomics team travelled to Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork for the 8th FOHNEU International Congress, two days that brought together occupational health nurses, health and safety leaders and workplace health professionals from across Europe.
Organised by the Federation of Occupational Health Nurses within the European Union (FOHNEU) in partnership with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), this year's Congress was built around the theme "Leading the Change". The programme covered digital innovation in occupational safety and health, leadership, health in SMEs and much more, and it was a fitting setting for KOS to share what we see every day in Irish workplaces: the right ergonomic intervention, properly fitted, makes a measurable difference to how people feel and perform at work.
Here is a look back at what we did in Cork.
Meeting European Commissioner Michael McGrath
One of the highlights of the Congress was the opportunity to meet Michael McGrath, European Commissioner for Justice, alongside our own Director of Ergonomics, James Kennedy.
It was a pleasure to welcome the Commissioner and to talk with him about the work KOS does with Irish employers. Occupational health sits at the meeting point of employee wellbeing, legal compliance and organisational performance, and it was encouraging to see that conversation taking place at a European level, here in Cork.
James Kennedy's Presentation: The Evidence of Relief
Session: The Evidence of Relief: How Ergonomic Devices Reduce Pain and Improve Function
Speaker: James Kennedy, Director of Ergonomics, KOS
When: Day 2, Friday 3 October 2025, 12:00 to 13:00
Where: Parallel Session 4, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
On Day 2, James presented to Congress delegates on a question that comes up in almost every workplace assessment we carry out: does ergonomic equipment actually work, and how do we know?
His session drew on the science and on real case studies to show that the answer depends heavily on one factor that is often overlooked: fit. An ergonomic mouse, keyboard or support is not a one-size-fits-all fix. The benefit comes from matching the right device to the individual, their body, their tasks and their workstation. When that match is right, the improvements in comfort and performance can be measured, not just assumed.
For an audience of occupational health professionals, this is a practical point. Equipment purchased without assessment often ends up in a drawer, or worse, continues to be used when it does not suit the employee. An evidence-based approach protects both the employee and the organisation's investment.
The KOS x Mousetrapper Stand: Our Fit for Function Clinic
Throughout the Congress, KOS partnered with Mousetrapper to run our Fit for Function Clinic on the exhibition floor. Rather than simply displaying products, we set out to show delegates exactly how a fit-first approach works in practice, the same process we use with employers across Ireland.
| Clinic Element | What Delegates Experienced | Why It Matters in the Workplace |
|---|---|---|
| Ergonomic assessments | A structured look at how each person works, their posture, their tasks and any discomfort they experience | Assessment comes first, so equipment decisions are based on need rather than guesswork |
| Hands-on device trials | The chance to try a range of mice, keyboards and supports and feel the difference for themselves | Trying before buying reduces wasted spend and increases the likelihood that employees actually use the equipment |
| Evidence-based recommendations | Recommendations tailored to the individual, grounded in the assessment findings and trial results | Clear, documented recommendations support compliance and give employees solutions that work for them |
The response from delegates reinforced something we believe strongly: when people are given the chance to try properly matched equipment, they understand immediately why fit matters.
Why the Fit for Function Model Works
The Fit for Function Clinic was designed to be practical, replicable and impactful, a model that workplaces can adopt to create healthier, pain-free environments for their teams.
- Practical: It follows a simple sequence of assess, trial and recommend, which fits naturally into existing health and safety and occupational health processes.
- Replicable: The same approach can be applied to one employee with a specific complaint or rolled out across an entire organisation.
- Impactful: Because recommendations are based on individual fit, employees are more likely to experience genuine relief, and employers can see the return on their investment.
This is the same thinking behind our in-person DSE ergonomic assessments and remote DSE ergonomic assessments, where every recommendation is tailored to the employee in front of us. For organisations that want to build this capability in-house, our DSE and VDU assessor training courses give internal teams the skills to carry out competent workstation assessments themselves.
Key Takeaways for Occupational Health and Safety Professionals
For those who could not make it to Cork, these are the points we would most want occupational health and safety teams to take away:
- Assessment should always come before equipment. Buying ergonomic products without understanding the individual's needs rarely delivers the expected results.
- Fit is the deciding factor. The same device can relieve discomfort for one person and have little effect for another. Matching matters.
- Let employees try before you commit. Hands-on trials improve uptake and help avoid equipment that goes unused.
- Document your recommendations. Evidence-based, recorded recommendations support both employee wellbeing and your compliance obligations.
Thank You to FOHNEU, INMO and Everyone Who Visited
We would like to thank FOHNEU and INMO for organising such a well-rounded Congress, our partners at Mousetrapper for joining us on the stand, and every delegate who stopped by the Fit for Function Clinic or attended James's session. Conversations like these are exactly what move workplace health forward, and it was a privilege to be part of "Leading the Change".
Bring Fit for Function to Your Workplace
Whether you need individual assessments, the right ergonomic equipment or a trained in-house assessor team, KOS can help you build a healthier, compliant workplace.
Book a ConsultationOn 2 and 3 October 2025, the KOS Ergonomics team travelled to Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork for the 8th FOHNEU International Congress, two days that brought together occupational health nurses, health and safety leaders and workplace health professionals from across Europe.
Organised by the Federation of Occupational Health Nurses within the European Union (FOHNEU) in partnership with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), this year's Congress was built around the theme "Leading the Change". The programme covered digital innovation in occupational safety and health, leadership, health in SMEs and much more, and it was a fitting setting for KOS to share what we see every day in Irish workplaces: the right ergonomic intervention, properly fitted, makes a measurable difference to how people feel and perform at work.
Here is a look back at what we did in Cork.
Meeting European Commissioner Michael McGrath
One of the highlights of the Congress was the opportunity to meet Michael McGrath, European Commissioner for Justice, alongside our own Director of Ergonomics, James Kennedy.
It was a pleasure to welcome the Commissioner and to talk with him about the work KOS does with Irish employers. Occupational health sits at the meeting point of employee wellbeing, legal compliance and organisational performance, and it was encouraging to see that conversation taking place at a European level, here in Cork.
James Kennedy's Presentation: The Evidence of Relief
Session: The Evidence of Relief: How Ergonomic Devices Reduce Pain and Improve Function
Speaker: James Kennedy, Director of Ergonomics, KOS
When: Day 2, Friday 3 October 2025, 12:00 to 13:00
Where: Parallel Session 4, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
On Day 2, James presented to Congress delegates on a question that comes up in almost every workplace assessment we carry out: does ergonomic equipment actually work, and how do we know?
His session drew on the science and on real case studies to show that the answer depends heavily on one factor that is often overlooked: fit. An ergonomic mouse, keyboard or support is not a one-size-fits-all fix. The benefit comes from matching the right device to the individual, their body, their tasks and their workstation. When that match is right, the improvements in comfort and performance can be measured, not just assumed.
For an audience of occupational health professionals, this is a practical point. Equipment purchased without assessment often ends up in a drawer, or worse, continues to be used when it does not suit the employee. An evidence-based approach protects both the employee and the organisation's investment.
The KOS x Mousetrapper Stand: Our Fit for Function Clinic
Throughout the Congress, KOS partnered with Mousetrapper to run our Fit for Function Clinic on the exhibition floor. Rather than simply displaying products, we set out to show delegates exactly how a fit-first approach works in practice, the same process we use with employers across Ireland.
| Clinic Element | What Delegates Experienced | Why It Matters in the Workplace |
|---|---|---|
| Ergonomic assessments | A structured look at how each person works, their posture, their tasks and any discomfort they experience | Assessment comes first, so equipment decisions are based on need rather than guesswork |
| Hands-on device trials | The chance to try a range of mice, keyboards and supports and feel the difference for themselves | Trying before buying reduces wasted spend and increases the likelihood that employees actually use the equipment |
| Evidence-based recommendations | Recommendations tailored to the individual, grounded in the assessment findings and trial results | Clear, documented recommendations support compliance and give employees solutions that work for them |
The response from delegates reinforced something we believe strongly: when people are given the chance to try properly matched equipment, they understand immediately why fit matters.
Why the Fit for Function Model Works
The Fit for Function Clinic was designed to be practical, replicable and impactful, a model that workplaces can adopt to create healthier, pain-free environments for their teams.
- Practical: It follows a simple sequence of assess, trial and recommend, which fits naturally into existing health and safety and occupational health processes.
- Replicable: The same approach can be applied to one employee with a specific complaint or rolled out across an entire organisation.
- Impactful: Because recommendations are based on individual fit, employees are more likely to experience genuine relief, and employers can see the return on their investment.
This is the same thinking behind our in-person DSE ergonomic assessments and remote DSE ergonomic assessments, where every recommendation is tailored to the employee in front of us. For organisations that want to build this capability in-house, our DSE and VDU assessor training courses give internal teams the skills to carry out competent workstation assessments themselves.
Key Takeaways for Occupational Health and Safety Professionals
For those who could not make it to Cork, these are the points we would most want occupational health and safety teams to take away:
- Assessment should always come before equipment. Buying ergonomic products without understanding the individual's needs rarely delivers the expected results.
- Fit is the deciding factor. The same device can relieve discomfort for one person and have little effect for another. Matching matters.
- Let employees try before you commit. Hands-on trials improve uptake and help avoid equipment that goes unused.
- Document your recommendations. Evidence-based, recorded recommendations support both employee wellbeing and your compliance obligations.
Thank You to FOHNEU, INMO and Everyone Who Visited
We would like to thank FOHNEU and INMO for organising such a well-rounded Congress, our partners at Mousetrapper for joining us on the stand, and every delegate who stopped by the Fit for Function Clinic or attended James's session. Conversations like these are exactly what move workplace health forward, and it was a privilege to be part of "Leading the Change".
Bring Fit for Function to Your Workplace
Whether you need individual assessments, the right ergonomic equipment or a trained in-house assessor team, KOS can help you build a healthier, compliant workplace.
Book a Consultation
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