Adapting Your Ergonomics Program to the Hybrid Work Environment Webinar Recording

Earn 1.5 Contact Hours

Member $140 | Nonmember $175 | Student $25

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting quarantine accelerated the trend toward performing office work remotely, whether from home or across the country. As many companies are re-evaluating what their workspace could look like and some companies are starting to call employees back to the office, these shifting environments pose challenges to industrial hygienists, such as:

• How to conduct an ergonomic assessment when individual no longer have assigned desks, whether at the office, home, or another remote location;
• What types of equipment are available in a non-traditional office setting that can be adapted for a workstation;
• What kind of changes in training are needed?
• Overall, how will the IH manage the safety of these environments and the health of employees?

This webinar will be a combination of presentations on current trends and strategies on managing a hybrid workplace environment.

Learning Objectives

After this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Outline the multiple work environments used for office work today: office, home, hoteling, desk-share, hotdesking
• Analyze the risks of developing musculoskeletal disorders from performing office work from a variety of workstations in multiple work environments
• Analyze the potential psychosocial disruptions from working in multiple locations: office, home, conference rooms
• Identify best practices to minimize the risks of musculoskeletal injury or impacts to productivity and employee satisfaction
• Identify program changes to conduct remote ergonomic evaluations and adapt training to serve both office and remote workers
• Identify recommendations to give employers on flexible furniture for the office, mobile accessories, and employer-funded accessories for the home that address these injury risks

Presenters

Penney Stanch spent the majority of her career at the Johnson Space Center (JSC), initially supporting the Space Shuttle program and then moving to the development of the International Space Station (ISS). She was the Crew Health Care System Manager for the ISS. In mid-career, she obtained her MPH in industrial hygiene and moved to the JSC Occupational Health Branch, through a NASA fellowship. She specialized in hazardous building materials, indoor air quality, ergonomics, and mishap investigation. She received a NASA Silver Achievement Medal for leading the development of the JSC Asbestos Tracking Tool. She also received the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal for sustained leadership and exceptionally high-impact leadership achievements for her work ensuring the inclusion of disabled workers in the Agency's health and safety program. After retiring from civil service, Penney works for Baer Engineering and Environmental Consulting, Inc., specializing in asbestos consulting, lead risk assessment, chemical exposures, and indoor air quality assessment throughout the hill country of Austin, Texas. She continues to write and speak about the importance of industrial hygienists’ participation in the inclusion of disabled employees, particularly in the implementation of low-cost or no-cost accommodations.

Marjorie Werrell is a doctor of physical therapy and certified industrial ergonomist with an extensive background in treatment & rehab of musculoskeletal injuries. She is the founder of ERGOWORKS Consulting, LLC a firm specializing in jobsite analysis, training and ergonomic program implementation. With over 30 years of experience, she has held medical, leadership and academic positions. She holds a PT degree from the University of Delaware, a doctorate from Arcadia University and a certification as an industrial ergonomist. Marjorie has developed and presented office, lab and industrial ergonomic strategies to a wide variety of companies including Exxon, FBI, Secret Service, and Novavax . She has spearheaded the Ergonomic Programs which are used by Library of Congress, FDA and BNA. Her work with the Navy has included Back Injury and CTD Prevention Programs as well as Ergonomic Analysis to ensure compliance of OPNAVINST5100.23. Marjorie is a national conference presenter and author for several safety and professional journals. She enjoys teaching both at the collegiate level, (Muscle Physiology & Kinesiology) and to front line employees. Her enthusiasm and practical applications leave her audience motivated and well prepared to initiate effective safety and health strategies. Marjorie was a Safety Advisory Panel Member for Bureau of Business Practice, and currently serves as an Advisory Board member for WELL. She has participated on committees to review and offer comment on the OSHA nursing home and retail grocery guidelines and contributed in developing the ANSI Back Standard for Construction workers. Marjorie is an active member of the AIHA Ergonomic Committee, speaking at sessions, on panels and for PDCs at AIHA national conferences as well as providing continuing education training for her local chapter. Her most recent contributions include Synergist articles: Sit-Stand Workstations, Exercising Judgement with Office Furniture, The Ergonomics Guide to Computer Workstations (both 2nd and 3rd editions) and the revision of the OSHA Ergonomic e-tool. She is currently working on the ergonomic chapter revisions and expansion for the IH white book.

Questions?

Contact [email protected].