Rachel Mitchell | SpeakerHub

Personal Details

Bio

Rachel Mitchell, R.Kin., M.Sc. (Human Factors), CCPE

Managing Ergonomist & Return to Work Consultant, ERGO Inc.

Rachel Mitchell is a Canadian Certified Professional Ergonomist (CCPE) and Registered Kinesiologist with over 20 years of experience. As the Managing Ergonomist for ERGO Inc., Rachel works with corporations to develop effective ergonomics programs to reduce workplace injuries and improve productivity. She was the recipient of the 2023 Liberty Mutual Ergonomics Practitioner of the Year award, recognizing achievements in the creative application of ergonomics. She holds a Masters of Science in Human Factors Engineering and is the past President of the Canadian College for the Certification of Professional Ergonomists (2019-2021).

Rachel works in a wide range of industries from office to manufacturing, warehousing, health care, and transportation. Her work includes office assessments, return to work planning & coaching, evaluations of new designs, ergonomics risk assessments, Physical Demands Analysis (PDAs), Cognitive Demands Analysis (CDAs), as well as developing and delivering custom training programs.

Rachel is the ergonomics subject matter expert on Staples Canada's Work from Anywhere Council.

Rachel holds an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology (Ergonomic Option) from the University of Waterloo, and a Masters of Science in Human Factors Engineering from the University of Nottingham

Current position (1)

Managing Ergonomist

ERGO Inc.

Degrees (2)

Human Factors Engineering

Universityof Nottingham

2002 to 2003

Kinesiology, Ergonomics Option

University of Waterloo

1997 to 2002

Presentations

Presentations (4)

Avoiding Costly Mistakes with Hybrid Work

With the transition to permanent hybrid work models, and with 65% of Canadians working two or more days/week remotely, Ergonomists are seeing employers fail to grasp easy opportunities to provide guidance and make improvements to hybrid workstations. These failures not only put employees at risk of sustaining musculoskeletal injuries, but can negatively impact employee productivity, job satisfaction and increase absenteeism and turnover; which ultimately impacts an organization’s bottom line. This presentation uses case studies to reveal common and costly mistakes to avoid.

Preventing Back Injuries with Ergonomics - At Home & At Work

Low back pain is a common issue that most people experience at some point in their lives, with an increased prevalence as we age. Furthermore, most people who experience low back pain endure recurrent episodes during their lifetime.
Low back pain is not only potentially debilitating, but it affects our productivity at work and our ability to participate in activities outside of work.
Through awareness of body mechanics and posture, care taken in the activities we perform, and attention to maintaining our general health and wellness we can minimize the loads we place on our backs, protecting them into the future.
In this presentation we will discuss
Why posture matters to the health of our backs
What postures are ideal to protect our backs
How to apply these postural principles to activities of work and home, including computer work, driving, and yard work
Strategies to optimize physical and mental health and wellbeing

The Keys to Successful Ergonomics Program Planning

This presentation will outline what ergonomics implementations should employers consider to ensure staff are protected from musculoskeletal disorder hazards, and set up for optimal productivity and work satisfaction.
This presentation will review the key components to a successful ergonomics & injury prevention program, with special consideration for how these components might be affected by our changed workplace situation. Points of discussion will include:
The role of management and importance of ergonomics policies
Incorporating a participative ergonomics approach
Broadening your risk identification strategies
Evaluating your implementation efforts
How work from home and hybrid working models may affect our approach
Strategies to encourage physical and mental wellbeing

Ergonomics Awareness & Injury Prevention (customized to the audience)

This session will teach participants the general concepts of ergonomics and how to identify potential hazards such as awkward postures, high forces, and repetition, in their work.
Using industry specific examples the session will outline how to make changes to prevent injuries and improve employee productivity.
The session can be customized with examples from any industry including traditional office work, home offices, call centers, warehousing, manufacturing, education, health care, and service sectors (e.g. custodians, maintenance workers, public works, education).

Past talks (1)

Top 3 Mistakes When Selecting an Ergonomic Sit-Stand Des

OHS Insider Ergonomics Webinar

Virtual

June 7, 2023