Ontario Super Jails – design and build projects
OPC Design experts worked with Ellis Don on all design aspects toward meeting the requirements of the extensive building of the ontario’s Super Jails. This included Human Factors design of the control booths and towers in order to prevent human error and safety related concerns for both the guards and the inmates. Lighting; Corridor and workstation design formed a major part of this project.
Ameristeel – Whitby, Ontario based Mini-Mill
The OPC industrial design ergonomics were involved and continue to be involved in the redesign of all Control Pulpits and Crane Operation Cabs on site. For this project OPC worked and works closely with the construction and engineering firms working for Ameristeel. This included the full design specifications and blue print for the new Control Pulpits and Crane Operator Cabs. This included designing seating and cab window design to maximize visual fields; as well as control designs to eliminate human error and maximize productivity for each crane and pulpit in the steel mill.
Purolator Courier – Design and build of new facility
OPC worked closely with Purolator as they moved their Sorting Operations to a new facility. The ergonomic component to the project included collecting data on the job demands at each workstation; and working with the construction firm and equipment designers to ensure that all aspects of the manual materials handling minimized human effort and fatigue
DaimlerChrysler – British Columbia Parts Distribution Centre
OPC BC’s office and consultants were involved in this long term redesign project. OPC Inc collaborated closely with the Facility specialists and equipment suppliers as well as with the Worksafe ergonomic experts in BC. This project included an extensive review of current design issues; job demands analysis and technical ergonomic audits. Following this the data was used to design shelving heights; angles; and new lifting equipment which significantly lowered the manual materials handling forces and frequencies which in turn decreased the rates and severity of Musculoskeletal injuries.
McMillan Binch Mendelsohn – Toronto Offices
In this project OPC Inc had the unique opportunity to collaborate with the Facility Manager; Design Team; and furniture supplier Knoll Canada for over two years. OPC’s Senior Consultant worked closely with this team during the blue print phase and prior to McMillan Binch moving to their new offices at BCE Place. OPC was also provided extensive and on-going education and training to the lawyers; and administrative staff in order to allow for a smooth transition from the original office to the new office space complete with new and innovative design improvements. Subsequent to this project wrapping up OPC Inc has provided McMillan with on-going training for their Internal Ergonomic Team who performs internal ergonomic assessments on an on-going basis.
Reuters News
In this project OPC Inc had the opportunity to collaborate with the Facility Manager; Design Team; and furniture/accessory suppliers over the course of one year. OPC’s Senior Consultant worked closely with this team during the blue print phase and prior to the original Reuters offices being upgraded and renovated. OPC provided extensive and on-going education and training to the writers; design team and administrative staff in order to allow for a smooth transition during the renovation and move phases of the project.
Steelcase Canada Head Office – Markham Ontario When Steelcase Canada renovated and upgraded the front office of their Markham-based Canadian Head Office, the lead designer approached Optimal Performance as the first step in the project. OPC worked closely with the design team on the key areas of: job demands analysis; auditing of work demands and software related issues; lighting and privacy audits; anthropometric reviews. Following this data collection phase, OPC worked with the design team at Steelcase to develop lighting; work environment; furniture; equipment and space allocation and workflow solutions. The result was an innovative, forward thinking design that met the job, mental and physical requirements of the employees as well as productivity goals determined prior to the start of the project.
Halton Regional Police – Front offices and Call Centre
Senior Ergonomic Design Consultants at OPC Inc. worked extensively with the administrative staff; police constables; and interior design team; in order to develop an ergonomic design blueprint for the redesign of the reception and public areas of the Halton Regional Police Station. The design challenge arises in these spaces as there needs to be a balance between the safety of the staff; police personnel and the public coupled with the need for the public to feel the front reception area is “approachable” and open. The redesign of this area and later the Call Centre was completed over a time period of one year.
Toronto 911 Centre – upgrade workstation and seating design
Optimal Performance was approached by the City of Toronto due to its expertise in design as well as its work with Halton Regional Police. The 911 Call Centre at the time had become an increasing design challenge as there were more employees being placed into the 911 response area and there were increasing issues with musculoskeletal and stress related complaints. OPC worked side by side with the Facility Dept; Designer; and Equipment suppliers to develop cost effective design improvement that also allowed the City to meet the Ministry of Labour’s ergonomic design guidelines. This 6 month project resulted in human factors and anthropometric requirements meet met with the design as well as information processing demands being taken into account with the design.
Coast Mountain Bus Company
OPC’s BC office was involved and continues to be involved in any new design projects related to the buses and coaches. These projects which are initiated by the OH&S experts with Coast Mountain allowed OPC to work closely with the Bus/Coach designers; OH&S team; and the Worksafe ergonomic experts. Some of the design projects which have been completed include the selection and redesign of seating in the buses and coaches; the joint development of ergonomic guidelines and methodology which can be used in all and any transportation industry in Canada (access via www.worksafebc). Design specifications developed by the OPC consultants are also now being employed whenever new buses or coaches are being purchased by Coast Mountain Bus.
Toronto Transit Commission – Bus Cab and Seating Design
The same expertise used for the Coast Mountain buses and cabs have been used and are used by the Toronto Transit Commission. These projects which are initiated by the OH&S department and union at the TTC have allowed OPC to work closely with the Bus/Coach designers; OH&S team; and the Ministry of Labour. Some of the design projects which have been completed include the selection and redesign of seating in the buses and coaches; redesign of the cab layout, switches and controls; seating specifications developed by the OPC consultants are also now being employed whenever new buses or coaches are being purchased by the Toronto Transit Commission.
NAV Canada
OPC Inc was involved in a redesign project for one of the Navigation Canada locations. This project was critical in that the work required a review of human error prevention & designs that would limit and eliminate operator fatigue & error; minimize mental stressors and physical discomfort for the control tower employees. The consultants used for this project included our Human Factors specialists who design in the subspecialty areas of human error; mental fatigue and cognitive processing.
Ericsson
Office upgrades and major furniture purchases This project allowed OPC Inc to collaborate with the Facility Management team; Design firm; and furniture/accessory suppliers over a 6 month time period. OPC’s Senior Consultant worked closely with this team during the blue print phase and following the Ericsson Mississauga offices being upgraded and renovated. OPC provided on-going education and follow up ergonomic studies for all employees both front office and technical which allowed a smooth transition of all employees into their new facilities.
Osler Health Sciences Centres – Construction of new facilities & upgrading of existing facilities
Osler Health Sciences Centres is located in Brampton, ontario and represents the new trend toward privately owned and managed facilities being leased by the hospitals. Hospitals around the province require significant upgrades in infrastructure, equipment and furniture. Optimal is currently working closely with a health case specialty design firm, RCG, toward the development of a leading edge, ergonomically designed facility(s); equipment and furniture for patients; medical staff and administrators. Toward this end (the facilities are due to be opened in 2007) OPC’s design consultants are working with the design firm toward the development of written standards for furniture; environmental design; workflow. Hospitals and health care facilities have the highest rate and severity of musculoskeletal injuries compared to any other industry in Canada. The methods being used in the design and construction of this new health care facility represents a leading edge approach to combing budgetary considerations; operational requirements; patient and staff health and safety; and ergonomics at the same time and with similar priorities. DaimlerChrysler Canada – New Product Build methodologies 1991 to 2005. The consulting team at Optimal Performance successfully assisted the design team and engineers at Daimler’s Bramalea and Windsor assembly facilities with all new product design from 1991 to 2005. OPC’s consultants were an integral part of all early stage build methodologies and equipment compatibility issues associated with the build of new vehicles. This required the consulting team to work with the vehicle design teams in Detroit as well as in Canada during all phases of the build methodology development. The team worked closely with all suppliers to Daimler including tool & equipment suppliers. This on=going large scale project resulted in Daimler realizing hundreds of thousands of dollars in increased worker productivity; avoidance of Ministry of Labour penalties and minimizing work refusals by over 70% from 1991.
Lear Corporation Canada – New Product Build methodologies 1991 to current
The team at Optimal Performance successfully assists the design team and engineers at Lear Corporation’s two assembly facilities with all new product design OPC’s consultants are an integral part of all early stage build methodologies and equipment compatibility issues associated with the build of new seating products for GM and DaimlerChrysler. These projects require the Senior Consultant to work with the seat design teams in Detroit as well as in Canada during all phases of the build design and facilities development. The consultant has worked closely with all suppliers to Lear Corporation including tool; equipment; fabric and conveyer system suppliers. This on-going complex project has resulted in Lear Corporation realizing thousands of dollars in increased worker productivity; avoidance of Ministry of Labour penalties and minimizing work refusals & work shut downs.
Amway, London, ON – Redesign of Manual Materials Handling & Pick to Light work areas
Amway’s London based Distribution Centre is a leading edge distribution and “pick to light” operation. The consultants at OPC Inc teamed up with operations; OH&S and engineering group in order to study and determine the most effective way to improve productivity levels; decrease rates of error in product picking and packing; decrease rates of fatigue and musculoskeletal injury; maximize use of floor space in the facility as a cost saving measure. The ergonomic component to the project included collecting data on the job demands at each work area; and working with the engineering firm and tool designers to ensure that all aspects of the job demands from “pick to light” to packaging and manual materials handling minimized human effort & fatigue
Canadian News/Broadcast News – Design and Build of IT area
The IT area which was housed on one floor of the CP/BN building had grown larger than the space which was originally set aside for these operations. The area was also equipped with furniture/seating/lighting that did not meet the physical and job demand requirements of the IT staff. OPC worked closely with the OH department; HR and the IT staff as well as the furniture supplier to develop seating and furniture standards. Ergonomic standards for lighting/air and other environmental factors were developed for CP/BN. once the standards were in place and the redesign of the area was complete OPC played a large and on-going role in follow up studies of new jobs in the IT area as well as to provide education and training sessions to all IT staff to ensure they used the new design and furniture appropriately.
Gennum Corporation – transition to new building 2001
Gennum Corporation is a Canadian company which manufacturer’s computer chips for the hearing aid; video and TV industry. Due to the steady growth of the company based in Burlington on, it became necessary for each of the separate buildings which housed Gennum’s operations to move to one larger building. OPC and its team of consultants worked with Gennum’s HR; OH&S; Engineering and Construction companies to review all design specifications including those of the environment; workstation layout; work flow and equipment/tool choices. Rates and severity of MSI’s and lost time injuries were significantly decreased following this move to a fully ergonomically design environment.
CIBC - National Redesign and Build of Customer Service Representative Workstations/Teller Workstations, including special workstation design for disabled customer access. OPC's ergonomic design team worked closely with the Real Estate and Design team at CIBC for this national design project.
OPC had collected over 10 years of data regarding the job demands, anthropometrics and mental demands of the tasks associated with the CSR and Teller positions. This data was conveyed to the design team whereby design blueprints were developed. OPC applied the Ministry of Labour for Ontario; the CSA and the ISO guidelines against this design in order to develop final specifications which took into account; safety; health and ergonomic principles as well as productivity and quality of customer service requirements.
Royal Bank of Canada - National Redesign and Build of CSR/Teller Workstations. OPC's Design Ergonomists are currently working with the Royal Bank of Canda on the redesign of their CSR/Teller/Information Personnel and Financial Advisor office designs. This unique project includes OPC Inc coaching the actors who will be part of the national training video about how to use the workstations; equipment, & furniture correctly; development of the script for media company; and working with the real estate personnel toward improving current designs and end user usage.
