AC2021 - 112: Ergonomically Addressing Physical and Psychosocial Challenges Posed by Evolving Technologies & Alternative Working Environments

Qualifies for CPD hours - Health & Wellness - HR Technology - Safe Workplace

As our workplaces continue to evolve in the face of changes in technology and work culture, our employees also face new physical, cognitive, and psychosocial challenges. Increasingly, employees are using mobile technology for data input, which introduces both physical and psychosocial risks. Many employees now work from home and in non-traditional work environments. These environments present challenges to employee’s physical and mental health. However, the Ministry of Labour still expects that these work environments comply with the CSA Standards for Office Ergonomics. This presentation will outline the challenges being faced by both employees and employers and will present strategies to ensure that work organization and workstation design meet the prescribed Ergonomic Standards and optimize employee health and wellbeing.

Rachel Mitchell will focus on a case study related to a home office as well as a vehicle workstation. Computer setups for each situation will be evaluated using an ergonomic audit and solutions will be reviewed. Participants will be provided with an “ERGO Vehicle Audit” to evaluate and assess work completed by employees required to work in their vehicles. Participants will also be provided with ERGO posters and informational Toolkit cards to promote proper ergonomics in their office ergonomic programs.

Learning Objectives

• Participants will be provided with tools (audits and checklists) to evaluate non-traditional working environments and the skills and solutions to determine how to better set up these environments to ensure the physical and mental well being of their staff.

Rachel Mitchell, R.Kin.,CCPE

Managing Ergonomist
ERGO Inc.

Rachel Mitchell is a Canadian Certified Professional Ergonomist and a Certified Kinesiologist with over 18 years of experience. She is the current President of the Canadian College for the Certification of Professional Ergonomists.

Rachel has spent the majority of her careering providing ergonomic consulting services to clients in a wide range of environments including manufacturing, warehousing, health care, construction, transportation, public utility, office, retail, educational, and food preparation. She has provided Return to Work Coordination for clients attending the WSIB Specialty Programs and has successfully assisted clients with extended work absences, Chronic Pain, and work-related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder return to meaningful work.

Rachel’s experience includes completing detailed ergonomic analyses, physical demands analysis (PDAs), office assessments, ergonomics program development & evaluation, return to work assessments, ergonomics integration into engineering designs, as well as delivering physical and cognitive ergonomics training, Rachel builds relationships with employers, workers, and unions to ensure successful outcomes; whether it be risk reduction, workstation and work flow design, ergonomic program development, or return to work planning.