Protected: How Toyota Created the Workplace of the Future Today
Protected: How Toyota Created the Workplace of the Future Today
Workplace safety has been on everyone’s mind during the pandemic. With many employees still working remotely, some companies, like Toyota Canada, are making adjustments to ensure safety and accessibility are top priority
, located in Bowmanville. “We knew we could do better.”
To help meet their goals, Toyota Canada turned to the Rick Hansen Foundation and adopted its handbook on workplace accessibility as a guide. “We challenged both our architects and our interior design company to help us achieve a specific level of certification with the Rick Hansen Foundation,” says Fogarty. “The architect came back and said, on their end, it would be pretty straightforward. But for our interior designer—that’s where she really shined.”
The end result is a forward-looking facility that goes above and beyond with its accessibility features, including:
Accessible Parking: Visitors to the ECPDC will immediately notice six accessible parking spaces directly outside the main entrance, each wide enough to comfortably park a mobility van (an additional two spots are reserved for those with limited mobility). Dotted curbs assist with navigation for the visually impaired, leading to the power-operated main doors and, like all of the facility’s automated doors, a metal stand with a large surface area that can be depressed with a hand, arm, or foot, provides entry. Also, a comfortable lounge is located behind the security area for driver’s making deliveries to the facility.
Accessible washrooms: A large, universal washroom contains multiple grab bars and railings, and stall doors are locked and unlocked with the push of a button. “You wouldn’t need to have fine motor skills to press the button,” says Fogarty. “You could push it with your elbow.” The space also features a panic button for those needing emergency assistance and trough sinks for easy access.
Accessible elevators: A colour-contrasted floor and tactile strips help the visually impaired enter cars safely, as do mirrored walls for those who have trouble with depth perception. Railings, like all of those in the building, are rounded instead of flat, for easier gripping. And elevator buttons, like all signage in the building, feature the addition of Braille.
Accessible work areas: “In the office, we have wide walkways and colour-coded flooring,” says Fogarty. “So if someone is slightly visually impaired, they can tell where the walkways are.” In addition, all office workstation desks can be raised or lowered electronically—something that should also appeal to those without accessibility needs who simply like to alternate their position throughout the day. Built-in timers can also be set to encourage standing breaks. Chairs feature improved ergonomics and the entire office is equipped with LED lighting. Meeting rooms offer wide entrances and plenty of space for wheelchairs, and podiums in presentation rooms are fully adjustable.
While the ECPDC’s accessibility features may be its most visually obvious features, the facility also sets new standards in safety. “The number one priority with the new building was the safety aspect,” says Fogarty.
One of the most common ways people get hurt in this type of environment is by coming into contact with operating machinery. Toyota Canada’s new facility is designed with railings and gates that make it incredibly difficult for team members to physically enter an area where a piece of power equipment is operating. “Then we took it one step further,” says Fogarty. “We also separated different types of equipment. For example, we have forklifts on the receiving docks. Those forklifts cannot get into other areas.”
Toyota Canada’s new Eastern Canadian Parts Distribution Centre is a leader in creating a welcoming workplace that is both safe and accessible to all. “Toyota has always been known as a car company, but over the past few years we’ve realized we’re a mobility company,” says Fogarty. “So right from Toyota Japan to Toyota Canada, we’ve really been focusing on being a mobility company—not only for the people who buy cars but for the associates, visitors and guests who visit our facilities.”){kind=link}