skip to main content

Ergonomics Conference Smart Assessments Make Smart Outcomes

May 3, 2022

Watch it on-demand

Ready to take your ergonomics process to the next level? Register to attend this free virtual conference on May 3, 2022. Whether you work in the automotive, chemical, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, or any other industry, this one-day event will provide you with key takeaways and actionable advice. VelocityEHS board-certified ergonomists and machine learning scientists (yes, we have them on staff!) will share strategies you can use to focus on the job improvement process while reducing workplace injuries. Topics include implementation best practices, tools for calculating a return on investment, machine learning advancements, physical demands analysis, and the impacts of ergonomics on corporations.

But Wait, There’s More! 

We’re hosting three exclusive sessions for VelocityEHS customers only. During these intimate discussions, board-certified ergonomists and VelocityEHS customers will  lead discussions on the issues you care about most. You’ll also hear from our product management team on roadmap initiatives.

Thank You for Attending. The Sessions are Now Available On-Demand!

Register to access the recordings

Agenda

10:00 to 10:15 a.m. Eastern

Opening Address – Advancing Your Ergonomics Process
Jamie Mallon, CPE, Chief Revenue Officer, VelocityEHS

Is your ergonomics process as effective and efficient as possible? Do you have a handle on identifying, controlling, or reducing risks? Today, EHS professionals are tasked with more than ever before. As a result, managing occupational ergonomics is more of a challenge, and many professionals end up reacting to incidents—investigating them and fixing work areas after the incidents occur—instead of preventing them. Jamie Mallon, CPE, and Chief Revenue Officer at VelocityEHS, will share his 25+ years of experience consulting with Fortune 500 companies to help them advance the impact of their ergonomics improvement process, enabling them to identify and design out risk before injury. Fortunately, today’s advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and predictive analytics, make ergonomics maturity an attainable goal for any organization looking to build a proactive approach injury prevention.


10:15 to 11:00 a.m. Eastern

Building an Effective Ergonomics Process
Kristi Hames, CIH, CSP, Senior Solutions Strategist, VelocityEHS
Christy Lotz, CPE, Director of Ergonomics, VelocityEHS

Every successful process requires a driver to establish a roadmap and continually monitor progress. If you’re behind the wheel of your ergonomics program, this workshop is for you. Based on ISO 45001 and the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle of continuous improvement, participants will get to work planning or improving their company’s ergonomics process. This workshop covers the key elements of a written ergonomics plan, considerations for establishing your ergonomics team, activities you can perform to enhance stakeholder alignment, and how to select metrics that are aligned with your process maturity and stakeholder objectives. This session is intended for the site, division, and corporate level ergonomics leaders and sponsors.


11:15 to 12:00 p.m. Eastern

Process Management and ROI
Rick Barker, CPE, CSP, Principal Solutions Strategist, VelocityEHS
Rachel Zoky, CPE, Senior Consultant, VelocityEHS

Sustaining a successful ergonomics process involves updating your program as it matures. During this session, participants are encouraged to share how they have used different process elements, such as:

  • Return on Investment
  • Measures of Risk and Risk Reduction
  • Design and Purchase Criteria
  • Project Tracking and Reports
  • Communication of Roles and Responsibilities
  • Organizational Accountability
  • Supplemental Training

12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Eastern

Quantifying Overall MSD Risk Level: A Panel Discussion with VelocityEHS Customers
Blake McGowan, CPE, Director of Ergonomics Research, VelocityEHS
Kevin Perdeaux, CPE, Director of Global Ergonomics, Lear Corporation
Ryan Goad, CPE, Environmental, Health & Safety Manager, Southwire Company


1:00 to 1:30 p.m. Eastern

A Road Map to ActiveEHS®  (Customers Only)
Ben Taft, Senior Product Manager, VelocityEHS


1:45 to 2:15 p.m. Eastern

Physical Demands Analysis: The 5 Most Commonly Asked Questions
Ari West, PT, PDT, Solutions Strategist, VelocityEHS

It is no surprise that work trends are changing, and employers are placing a higher level of importance on employee health and wellness. With musculoskeletal injuries being among the most expensive healthcare costs, employers are actively searching for ways to reduce workplace injuries and maintain a healthier workforce.

Like ergonomics, a Physical Demands Analysis (PDA) is another tool to manage musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), however it approaches MSDs from a different direction. Ergonomics focuses on changing the job to fit people better whereas a PDA is generally used in matching people to job demands. The data it provides is integral for those implementing or managing an ergonomics process. PDAs are used for multiple purposes, including:

  • Pre-employment screening. Helps ensure that employees can safely perform job requirements and are physically capable of completing the assigned work.
  • Return-to-work. This ensures that employees who sustained workplace injuries are physically able to return to positions that comply with any physical restrictions that may have been determined by their physician.
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements. The results will ensure the appropriate PPE is used during the completion of hazardous jobs.

The presenter of this session will answer these five questions:

  • What does a PDA do?
  • Who can complete one?
  • What elements should it include?
  • What are the benefits?
  • How to incorporate it into a workflow?

2:30 to 3:15 p.m. Eastern

How Ergonomics and MSD Risk Reduction Efforts Impact Corporate Sustainability Metrics
Blake McGowan, CPE, Director of Ergonomics, VelocityEHS

Sustainable finance and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing are two of the most significant drivers of today’s investment trends.  

Institutional and private investors, not to mention customers and the global public-at-large, increasingly demand that business leaders adopt a strategic approach to corporate sustainability and integrate ESG risk management into their financial and operational models—not only to achieve greater levels of corporate sustainability but as a necessary component of operational risk management. To stay ahead in this rapidly changing and tensely competitive environment, businesses need to place a strong focus on ESG as a core goal of their operations 


3:30 to 4:15 p.m. Eastern

How Machine Learning is Advancing Ergonomics Effectiveness
Dr. Julia Penfield, Ph.D., Principal Machine Learning Scientist, VelocityEHS
Rick Barker, CPE, CSP, Principal Solutions Strategist, VelocityEHS

The challenge of driving greater efficiency and effectiveness in ergonomics grows every year, just as it does for all aspects of manufacturing. Concurrently, EHS professionals are also managing a steadily increasing amount of data. Machine learning applications provide the opportunity for safety professionals to complete tasks more easily, quickly, and accurately.   

VelocityEHS experts Julia Penfield, Ph.D., Principal Machine Learning Scientist, and Rick Barker, CPE, CSP, Principal Solutions Strategist, will help you gain a better understanding of what machine learning is and how it is already being applied to save time and increase the effectiveness in three different EHS use cases. From ergonomics assessments to the identification of leading indicators, you’ll leave this breakout thinking, “Wow! I didn’t know machine learning could do that!” Use this time to ask questions of the presenters and think about how this exciting technology can take tasks off your plate and make your department more effective. 


4:30 to 5:00 p.m. Eastern

Determining the Value of New Technology: A Panel Discussion with VelocityEHS Customers
Blake McGowan, CPE, Director of Ergonomics Research, VelocityEHS
Sarah Grawe, Ergonomics Manager, Cummins
Michael Mauro, Divisional Ergonomics and Error Proofing Process Owner, W.L. Gore & Associates

Continue Your Learning! VelocityEHS board-certified ergonomists presented six sessions at the recently held Applied Ergonomics Conference. Those on-demand recordings of the sessions will be available to all attendees, starting May 3rd, for up to 30 days.

Back to Top