The objective is to translate clinical recommendations into something concrete and workable at the actual worksite. Rather than relying on a general description of duties, an assessor observes the role in context, identifies any barriers to a safe and sustainable return, and considers what adjustments, supports, or modified duties might help bridge the gap between a worker's current capacity and the demands of their pre-injury role.

A worksite assessment is usually arranged once it's been established that a worker may benefit from support to return to work, or where there's a need to clarify what duties are genuinely available and achievable. The assessor generally meets with the worker at their actual (or a comparable) workplace, and it's best practice for the employer or a workplace representative to be present, so that findings and recommendations can be discussed collaboratively rather than in isolation.

Following the visit, a report is prepared summarising the findings, covering the physical and psychological demands observed, any barriers identified, and recommendations for supporting a safe return. This is shared with the relevant stakeholders involved in the worker's recovery and return-to-work planning, so that everyone: the worker, employer, treating team, and case manager, are working from the same, workplace-specific picture.