Preventing Injury, Boosting Performance and Reimagining the Workplace
Linda Miller didn’t set out to change how people sit, stand, or move at work.
She just wanted to help people heal.
Back when she was fresh out of school, working in rehabilitation, she saw the end of the story before most people ever saw the first page, injuries that didn’t just end careers, but changed lives. Repetitive strain. Back trauma. Limbs lost.
“I kept thinking, why do we wait until people are broken to start fixing things?”
So she shifted her focus. She trained as an occupational therapist, then earned a Master’s in environmental design. Her first big case? A lumber mill, where repetitive wrist injuries were burning through workers.
“That’s when I realized, I could help stop the pain before it started.”
It was the spark that launched a career. And it’s still the fire that fuels her work today.
What Is Ergonomics, Really?
If you think ergonomics is just about comfy office chairs, think again.
“It’s not about fitting the person to the job,” Linda says. “It’s about designing the job around the person.”
That means workspaces that move with you, not against you. Equipment that adjusts to different sizes, strengths, and capabilities. Tools that don’t force the body into contortions. It means designing with humans, not for them.
And it pays off.
“It’s not just about safety. It’s about performance. Comfort leads to focus. Focus leads to better work.”
Productivity and protection, built together, not traded off.
Small Fixes, Massive Wins
Linda’s career is full of stories where simple changes made massive differences.
Like the time she helped introduce height-adjustable hospital beds.
“Before, beds were crank-adjustable, nurses were bending and twisting all day. No one had time to adjust the bed manually.”
The result? Widespread back injuries. Chronic pain. Missed shifts. Then came electric beds. Push a button, fix your posture, save your spine. It sounds basic now. Back then, it was revolutionary.
Or take the exoskeleton pilot project. A worker strapped on the frame and told a researcher:
“This might let me go home and play with my son again.”
That’s the kind of thing Linda lives for. Not just fewer claims or fewer lost hours—but more birthdays, more ball games, more life.
From Boardrooms to Operating Rooms
Today, Linda’s company, EWI Works, is a leader in ergonomics consulting. They work across sectors: construction, manufacturing, government, hospitals.
But the problems are shockingly consistent.
Even high-tech operating rooms have blind spots. Surgeons twist to look at monitors. They bend for hours. Robotics reduce some strain, but introduce new static loads.
The solution isn’t always another tool. Sometimes it’s a conversation.
“The best change often starts with a worker saying, ‘Hey, this hurts.’”
“We’re seeing the same postural strain in surgeons as we see in construction workers,” she says. “Neck, back, wrists, same injuries, different uniforms.”
Posture Is a Lie (Sort Of)
Linda says there’s no such thing as “perfect posture.”
“Even a great position, if you stay in it too long, becomes a bad one.”
Instead, she preaches movement. Change it up. Sit. Stand. Stretch. Walk. Don’t get frozen in your own frame.
“Movement is medicine,” she says. “Stillness is the problem.”
And she’s not just talking theory. During COVID, her team helped remote workers retrofit their homes with better setups, turning kitchen chairs into ergonomic tools with a few smart tweaks. Because when the commute disappears, so do thousands of steps a day. And it adds up.
From Rehab to Ripple Effect
Linda started out helping people recover.
Now she’s helping entire industries avoid the damage in the first place.
Her programs don’t just reduce injury. They empower teams, helping workers spot risks, ask better questions, and even mentor newcomers.
“I always tell seasoned workers: be that person who makes it safe to say, ‘I don’t know.’ That’s where prevention starts.”
She’s also deeply involved in tech: exploring how AI can flag high-risk postures from video footage, or how exosuits can support movement without creating new hazards.
But she’s quick to add:
“Tech is only helpful if people actually use it. Design it for real humans, or it’ll gather dust.”
A Future That Fits
As we talk about aging workforces, mental health, burnout, and the pace of tech, Linda keeps circling back to one thing: designing for the whole person.
That means smarter tools. Better chairs. Adjustable desks. But it also means support, autonomy, mentorship, and empathy.
It means seeing workers not just as labor, but as people with bodies that ache, lives that stretch beyond the jobsite, and goals that include retiring healthy enough to enjoy it.
“You shouldn’t have to choose between a job you love and a body that still works.”
Linda Miller is designing a world where you don’t have to.
Work smart. Stay strong. Speak up.
Related Articles
- All Posts
- #EmergencyPreparedness
- 2025 safety trends
- 360 Immersive
- 360immersive
- 6S Safety
- accident prevention
- accidental careers
- accountability
- adjustable workstations
- adult education
- AI automation
- AI implementation
- AI in business
- AI in operations
- AI in Safety
- AI podcast
- AI strategy
- AI transformation
- Alberta safety courses
- Allan James Moore
- artificial intelligence
- asking for help
- audit findings
- audit readiness
- Audit Reporting
- automation in safety
- automation strategy
- avoidable injuries
- awareness
- Aztec Safety
- back strain
- BambooHR integration
- Bear safety
- behavior-based safety
- Behavioral Safety
- behavioural safety
- biometric sensors
- BIS Podcast
- BIS Safety Podcasts
- BIS Safety Software
- BIS Safety Spotlight
- black holes
- Blame Culture
- Blue Angels
- BP Texas City Explosion
- Brave Leadership
- Brett Burkard
- burnout
- business automation
- call before you dig
- Canadian OHS
- Canadian safety
- Canadian safety history
- Canadian safety standards
- Canadian wilderness safety
- carbon monoxide
- Carolynne Heron
- CCOHS
- chemical
- chemical vapors
- chronic injuries
- chronic pain
- cloud-based safety tools
- Coming Soon
- community safety programs
- Competency in Safety
- complacency in safety
- Compliance
- compliance courses
- Compliance In Canada
- compliance issues
- Compliance management
- Compliance Reporting
- compliance software
- compliance tools
- compliance tracking
- compliance training
- compliance vs protection
- Construction advocacy
- Construction education
- Construction industry
- construction safety
- construction safety training
- construction technology
- continuous improvement
- continuous safety improvement
- corporate culture
- corporate training
- corrective actions
- crane
- CSA standards
- Customer Spotlight
- Customer Spotlight Kevin Swinden Global Hazmat Safety Culture Hazmat Management Dangerous Goods Competency in Safety Workplace Risk Mitigation BIS Training Clients Canadian EHS
- customized training
- daily trip inspection
- Damage Prevention
- Dangerous Goods
- dangerous goods classification
- Danny Sellers
- data-driven safety
- debriefing
- Decision Analysis
- defect management
- defect tracking
- defensive driving
- DEI in onboarding
- digital badges
- digital compliance
- digital FLHA
- digital forms
- Digital Hazard Reporting
- Digital Onboarding
- digital safety
- Digital Safety Audits
- digital safety meetings
- Digital safety systems
- digital safety tools
- digital safety transformation
- digital site access
- Digital Training Tools
- digital transformation
- DMS features
- document control
- document management system
- Dr. Joanna Pagonis
- Dr. Tom Krause
- driver file management
- driver training
- driving instructor program
- DTRMS
- e-learning
- e-learning tools
- eadership in safety
- early intervention
- education technology
- EHS
- EHS Adoption
- EHS Compliance
- EHS digital solutions
- EHS Inspections
- EHS Onboarding
- EHS software
- EHS systems
- EHS technology
- EHS tools
- Einstein
- electrical safety
- elite performance
- Emergency Action Plan
- emergency preparedness
- emergency procedures
- emergency response
- emergency supplies
- emotional training
- employee behavior
- employee engagement
- employee health
- Employee onboarding
- Employee Readiness
- employee safety
- employee training
- employee trust
- Energy Isolation
- engaging toolbox meetings
- equipment inspections
- ergonomic consulting
- ergonomic design
- ergonomic risks
- ergonomics
- Evacuation Procedures
- evidence collection
- EWI Works
- excavator safety essentials
- exoskeleton
- exoskeletons
- failure analysis
- fall prevention
- fall protection
- fast onboarding
- field experience
- field level hazard assessments
- field operations
- field safety
- field safety assessments
- field safety communication
- field safety leadership
- field safety services
- Field Safety Technology
- field safety tools
- Field-Friendly Software
- Fire Drills
- fire prevention
- Fire Safety Training
- first aid kit
- first week on the job
- first workplace injury
- fleet management
- fleet safety
- FLHA engagement
- FLHA Integration
- FLHA software
- FMEA
- freight
- Frontline Engagement
- frontline safety
- fuel handling
- future of work
- Global Hazmat
- global onboarding
- gravitational waves
- gut feeling in safety
- hand injuries
- handling hazardous materials
- hands-on training
- hazard analysis
- hazard assessment compliance
- hazard assessment software
- Hazard Awareness
- hazard communication
- Hazard Identification
- hazard prevention
- hazard recognition
- hazard reporting
- hazard reporting technology
- hazard tracking
- Hazardous Energy Control
- Hazmat Management
- Health & Safety Podcast
- health and safety
- hearing loss prevention
- hearing protection
- heavy equipment operation
- heavy equipment safety
- hidden workplace hazards
- high voltage systems
- HR automation
- HR software
- HR technology
- human factors
- human factors in safety
- human in the loop
- Human Performance
- human vs machine
- human-centered design
- human-centered safety
- humor in safety
- ICBC certification
- identification
- immersive learning
- Imposter Syndrome
- incident data
- incident investigation
- incident management
- incident prevention
- incident reporting
- inclusive leadership
- industrial AI
- Industrial Hygiene
- industrial safety
- influence vs control
- Infrastructure Risk
- injury consequences
- injury prevention
- injury prevention tips
- injury recovery
- injury reporting
- injury response
- injury response plan
- instant hazard logging
- instructor development
- internal audits
- international workforce
- interpreting safety data
- invisible dangers
- ISO standards
- Jeff Mulligan
- Jennifer Lastra
- job site accountability
- job site hazards
- job site risks
- job site safety
- jobsite readiness
- Jody Young
- KBR Safety Training
- Kevin Swinden
- labor movement
- ladder safety
- Leadership
- leadership accountability
- leadership and empathy
- Leadership in Safety
- Leadership Management
- leadership messaging
- Lean Manufacturing
- Lean Workplace
- learning from incidents
- learning management
- lifting techniques
- LIGO
- Linda Miller
- LMS
- LMS features
- LMS software
- Lock Out Tag Out
- lockout tagout
- lone workers
- LOTO
- machine learning
- Machine Safety
- Maintenance Safety
- mental health at work
- MI Safety
- microlearning
- Mike Schwartz
- minor injuries
- mobile FLHA solution
- mobile onboarding
- Mobile Safety Apps
- Mobile Safety Platforms
- mobile safety reporting
- Mobile Safety Tools
- mobile safety tools safety compliance solutions
- mould hazards
- mould prevention
- movement in workplace
- multilingual training
- MyZone AI
- Near Miss Reporting
- new hire experience
- New Hire Safety
- New Worker Training
- new workers
- no-blame investigations
- noise exposure
- nonconformance
- Northern BC
- NRCA
- NSC Standard 13
- occupational fatigue
- occupational hazards
- occupational health
- occupational health risks
- occupational safety
- occupational therapy
- OH&S
- OHS
- OHSA
- oil and gas safety
- omni-training
- onboarding Canada
- onboarding safety
- Onboarding Software
- online learning
- online orientation software
- Online safety training
- operational efficiency
- Operational Excellence
- organizational culture
- organizational safety
- OSHA compliance
- OSHA standards
- outdated practices
- Outdoor work hazards
- overconfidence
- overhead crane courses
- pain awareness
- paperless safety reporting
- paperless safety talks
- personal protective equipment
- Pharmaceutical Safety
- physics careers
- pipeline safety
- playbook software
- podcast
- post-accident review
- post-incident protocol
- PPE
- PPE enforcement
- PPE improvement
- pre-trip inspection
- predictive analytics
- pretrip inspection
- preventing shortcuts
- preventive action
- proactive risk management
- proactive safety
- proactive safety culture
- proactive safety measures.
- Proactive Safety Systems
- process improvement
- Professional development
- propane safety
- propane storage
- protective clothing
- psychological hazards
- psychological safety
- quality control
- quality management
- quality standard
- Real Safety Leadership
- real-time hazard reporting
- Real-Time Reporting
- real-time safety
- real-time safety tools
- real-time site data
- recordkeeping
- reduce training costs
- regulatory updates
- repetition in safety
- repetitive motion injuries
- respirator safety
- respirators
- risk assessment
- risk management
- risk mitigation
- risk prevention
- Risk Prevention Tools
- risk reduction
- road safety
- Robin Postnikoff
- ROI with AI
- root cause analysis
- root cause correction
- routine task risks
- safe excavation
- safe habits
- safe transport
- safe work habits
- safe work practices
- safety
- safety accountability
- safety advice
- safety article
- Safety Audit Software
- safety automation
- safety awareness
- safety best practices
- safety communication
- safety compliance
- Safety Conversations
- safety culture
- safety data
- safety data sheets
- safety documentation
- safety engagement
- safety follow-up
- safety gear
- safety gloves
- safety goggles
- safety habits
- safety improvement
- safety incentives
- safety innovation
- safety insights
- safety inspection
- safety instinct
- Safety Leaders
- safety leadership
- Safety Leadership Podcast
- safety legislation
- safety lessons
- safety management
- safety management system
- safety management systems
- safety metrics
- safety mindset
- safety motivation.
- safety myths
- safety onboarding
- safety planning
- safety podcast
- safety procedure updates
- Safety Procedures
- safety process improvement
- safety professionals
- safety reporting
- safety review process
- safety shortcuts
- safety software
- Safety Spotlight
- safety systems
- safety technology
- safety theater
- safety tips
- safety tools
- safety training
- safety transformation
- safety transparency
- Sarah Anderson
- scaffold safety
- scaffolding inspections
- scalable training solutions
- Scott Lyall
- shipping documentation
- silent dangers
- silica dust
- Sinogap Solutions
- slow-building hazards
- smart helmets
- smart PPE
- smart safety systems
- smart safety tools
- SOPs
- space science
- Spencer McDonald
- Standardized Work
- stop work authority
- storytelling and safety
- storytelling in safety
- supervisor training
- system safety
- Systems Thinking in Safety
- tablet-based toolbox talks
- TDG
- team communication
- team performance
- teamwork
- tech and ergonomics
- tech in safety
- tech-enabled learning
- Thinking Driver
- Titan Environmental
- toolbox talks tablets
- Total Recordable Injury Formula
- tough guy mentality
- toxic air
- training
- training courses
- Training integration
- training management
- training matrix
- training record management
- training records
- training software
- transportation
- transportation of dangerous goods
- trust
- Trust and Accountability
- trust at work
- underground utilities
- unseen workplace threats
- user experience
- utility line marking
- utility locating
- Utility Safety Partners
- values-based onboarding
- vehicle safety
- version control
- veteran advice
- Virtual Reality
- VR safety training
- VR Technology
- wearable technology
- WHMIS
- Wildlife awareness
- witness statements
- women in leadership
- work-alone training
- work-related injuries
- worker accountability
- worker advocacy
- worker fatigue
- worker protection
- worker safety
- worker safety habits
- worker safety tips
- worker trust
- worker wellbeing
- workers' rights
- Workforce Automation
- workforce compliance
- Workforce development
- workforce engagement
- workforce management
- Workforce Readiness
- workforce training
- workplace accidents
- workplace air quality
- workplace best practices
- workplace certification
- workplace compliance
- Workplace Culture
- workplace hazard prevention
- Workplace Hazard Tracking
- workplace hazards
- workplace health
- workplace incident response
- workplace injuries
- workplace injury prevention
- workplace inspections
- workplace leadership
- workplace mindset
- Workplace Organization
- workplace risk factors
- workplace risk management
- Workplace Risk Mitigation
- Workplace safety
- workplace safety culture
- Workplace Safety Leadership
- workplace safety rules
- workplace safety tech
- workplace safety tips
- Workplace Safety Tools
- workplace safety training
- workplace stress
- workplace tiredness
- workplace wellness
- WSPS
In this episode, Susan Swatsky discusses how the "people part" of safety is often missed in traditional safety management systems,...
Bear encounters are a real risk in Canada’s wilderness industries. Learn how to recognize signs, prevent encounters, and respond with...
Looking to cut training expenses? Learn how Canadian organizations are using online orientation software to streamline onboarding, save money, and...
