Past events

11 Mar 2014

IWH Speaker Series

Building front-line capacity to prevent occupational disease in Ontario

Linn Holness, Centre for Research Expertise in Occupational Disease

Occupational diseases are typically under-recognized and under-reported, in part because awareness of occupational disease and its prevention is low. The Centre for Research Expertise in Occupational Disease (CREOD) has been working with occupational health and safety system partners over the past several years to address occupational disease. In this plenary, occupational health physician Dr. Linn Holness, CREOD director and professor in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto, tells the story of her team's journey as they undertook this work. In particular, she talks about a recent study exploring the knowledge, skill and resource needs of front-line prevention system partners for occupational skin disease prevention and CREOD's current approach to addressing these needs.

18 Feb 2014

IWH Speaker Series

Ontario Office of the Worker Adviser: Services and partnerships in support of vulnerable workers

Alec Farquhar, Office of the Worker Adviser

Ontario's Office of the Worker Adviser (OWA) provides free and confidential services to 10,000 non-unionized workers every year in matters related to workplace insurance and occupational health and safety reprisals. In this presentation, OWA Director Alec Farquhar highlights the range of services provided, the partnerships within the workplace insurance system and the broader community, as well as the emerging challenges for vulnerable workers.

11 Feb 2014

IWH Speaker Series

Income security and labour-market engagement: Envisioning the future of work disability policy in Canada

Emile Tompa, Institute for Work & Health; Ellen MacEachen, Institute for Work & Health

In this plenary IWH senior scientists Drs. Emile Tompa and Ellen MacEachen describe the new Centre for Research in Work Disability Policy, recently launched to address work disability policy challenges through a seven-year SSHRC Partners grant. They describe the centre’s mandate and how it's organized to create a new generation of research on work disability policy.

28 Jan 2014

IWH Speaker Series

How to make occupational health and safety training more effective: Findings from a field trial

Ben Amick, Institute for Work & Health

In a recent quasi-experimental field trial, an Institute for Work & Health (IWH) research team compared the impact of in-person office ergonomics training with e-learning office ergonomics training. Both training programs took the same amount of time and delivered the same content. In this plenary, the IWH's Dr. Ben Amick, the lead researcher on this project, presents the findings of the 12-month trial, including which form of training had the greatest impact on worker knowledge, attitudes and behaviour with respect to office ergonomics.

3 Dec 2013

IWH Speaker Series

An introduction to developmental evaluation: Why evaluation matters in rethinking "accountability to learning"

Sanjeev Sridharan, St. Michael's Hospital

What is developmental evaluation? Why might this approach to program development be relevant for Ontario's health system? In this plenary, Sanjeev Sridharan, director of the Evaluation Centre for Complex Health Interventions at St. Michael's Hospital's Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, shares his thoughts on the many ways developmental evaluations can contribute to accountability and learning.

26 Nov 2013

IWH Speaker Series

Law Commission of Ontario’s Vulnerable Workers Project: Why? How? What’s next?

Patricia Hughes, Law Commission of Ontario

In April 2013, the Law Commission of Ontario released its final report on vulnerable workers and precarious work. The project addressed part-time, contract and temporary work—including work under the federal foreign worker programs. Among its 47 recommendations are those related to the distribution of information to new employees, increased pro-active inspections in high risk workplaces and the expediting of reprisal complaints. In this plenary, Patricia Hughes, the Commission's executive director, explains the vulnerable workers/precarious work project: its focus, its most significant recommendations, as well as its seen and potential impact.

21 Nov 2013

Alf Nachemson Memorial Lecture

Research informing policy: How to make an impact

Mieke Koehoorn, University of British Columbia

British Columbia and Ontario have been national leaders in funding research on worker health protection and in using research evidence to strengthen public policy. From her perspective as the Director of the Partnership for Work, Health & Safety at the University of British Columbia, Dr Koehoorn will share examples of the contribution of research to informing regulatory and compensation policy in worker health protection in British Columbia. The research partnership between WorkSafeBC (BC’s Workers’ Compensation Board) and the University of British Columbia focuses on current and emerging issues in work-related health in British Columbia. The partnership has a focus on advancing the use of routinely collected administrative data to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public programs. Dr Koehoorn will draw from this unique experience in British Columbia to share some lessons learned about high impact collaborations between research and policy.

19 Nov 2013

IWH Speaker Series

Preventing needlestick injuries in Ontario’s acute care hospitals: Progress and ongoing challenges

Andrea Chambers, Institute for Work & Health

In 2007, Ontario introduced a regulation to promote the adoption of safety-engineered needles for the prevention of needlestick injuries. However, needlestick injury declines in the province from 2004 to 2011 have not been substantial. Ontario’s regulatory standard, designed to allow for local flexibility in the selection and implementation of these safety devices, relies heavily on the actions and conditions of regulated workplaces. In this plenary, Andrea Chambers shares findings on how implementation of the regulation played out at three acute-care hospitals.

13 Nov 2013

IWH Speaker Series

Geographic variation in work injuries: An analysis of individual and area-level factors within Canada

Curtis Breslin, Institute for Work & Health; Sara Morassaei, Institute for Work & Health

To what extent do work injuries vary from one region to another, from one province to another? And what factors are associated with these variations? IWH Scientist Dr. Curtis Breslin and Research Operations Coodinator Sara Morassaei share the findings of a study that helped answer these questions, based on data from the 2003 and 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey.

12 Nov 2013

IWH Speaker Series

Bridging the gap between the economic evaluation literature and daily practice in OHS

Hanneke van Dongen, VU University Amsterdam

Continued improvements in occupational health and safety (OHS) can only be ensured if decisions about interventions are based on the best available evidence. To ensure this is the case, scientific evidence should meet the needs of decision-makers. In this plenary, Hanneke van Dongen shares the results of a qualitative study that explores the OHS decision-making process and information needs of decision-makers in the context of bridging the gap between the economic evaluation literature and daily practice in workplace health and safety.

29 Oct 2013

IWH Speaker Series

Contrasting participatory ergonomics programs with requirements for occupational health and safety management systems

Richard Wells, Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD)

There has been growing literature on participatory ergonomics (PE) programs, in which teams work together to identify risks, and change tools, equipment and work processes to improve workplace conditions. But how do PE programs fit in with occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS) standards? In this study, Dr. Richard Wells examines elements of PE programs and contrasts them against key themes of OHSMS. The findings may not bode well for successful implementation of PE programs.

22 Oct 2013

IWH Speaker Series

Health and safety issues in the aging workforce

Harry Shannon, McMaster University

Concerns about the viability of social programs have prompted governments to encourage workers to remain in the workforce. What will persuade older workers to stay in employment? What needs to be done to ensure they remain healthy and productive? This talk examines these issues. The health effects of normal aging are reviewed, as well as the implications for health and safety. Some possible ways to manage the aging workforce are discussed. Finally, questions that need to be answered are outlined, and methodological challenges for epidemiological studies are described.

15 Oct 2013

IWH Speaker Series

Health-care workers and antineoplastic drugs: Evaluating the risks and identifying determinants of exposure

Chun Yip Hon, Ryerson University

Health-care workers may be exposed to hazardous antineoplastic drugs—i.e. drugs used in chemotherapy—when handling them and/or when touching surfaces contaminated by them. Most studies looking at exposures to antineoplastic drugs in hospitals have been limited to select departments and/or workers with certain job titles. This may lead to an underestimation of the risk if all exposures during the circulation of the drug within a facility from cradle to grave (known as the hospital medication system) are not taken into account. In this plenary, Chun Yip Hon, an assistant professor in Ryerson University's School of Occupational and Public Health, talks about his study of antineoplastic drugs and the hospital medication system. His results suggest that contamination is more widespread than initially believed and that a wider range of job categories are at risk of exposure to antineoplastic drugs.

24 Sep 2013

IWH Speaker Series

Non-randomized studies in Cochrane reviews of intervention studies: A content analysis

Jani Ruotsalainen, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Finland

Although a growing number of Cochrane reviews of intervention studies have included non-randomized studies, how and why these studies have been included has not been evaluated to date. In this plenary, Jani Ruotsalainen, managing editor of the Cochrane Occupational Safety and Health Review Group, talks about the practice of including non-randomized studies in Cochrane systematic reviews, focusing on the reasons why these studies were included. He also looks at the methods used by the studies to assess risk of bias.

11 Sep 2013

IWH Speaker Series

Prospective Outcomes of Injury Study: Recruitment and participant characteristics

Sarah Derrett, University of Otago, New Zealand

A longitudinal study is underway in New Zealand to identify the predictors of disability following an injury. This study, called the Prospective Outcomes of Injury Study, involves 2,856 participants who were selected from the entitlement claims registry of the country’s no-fault compensation insurer, the Accident Compensation Corporation. Participants were recruited between 2007 and 2009, and follow-ups were done at 12 months and 24 months after their injuries. In this plenary, principal investigator Sarah Derrett provides a brief overview of the study design, participant characteristics (including health and disability status), and findings on the factors associated with disability.

16 Jul 2013

IWH Speaker Series

Visuals for workplace safety

Peter Stoyko, Elanica (Information Design Consultancy)

Health and safety regulators are relying more and more on visuals to communicate information and change behaviour, especially among diverse populations. Peter Stoyko, a social scientist and information designer, draws upon scientific findings, design principles and his own field research in Asia to discuss the crafting of workplace safety visuals that are both engaging and effective.

28 May 2013

IWH Speaker Series

A multi-centre research initiative focusing on successful integration of youth into education and employment

Thomas Lund, Regional Hospital Herning, Denmark

Denmark faces large and growing problems integrating youth into education and gainful employment. The proportion of younger disability pensioners is increasing and, in some parts of the country, more than one third of those not enrolled in secondary education rely on social benefits related to ill health and unemployment. The concept of a generation for whom working life is over before it begins is also recognized in other north European countries. In order for policy-makers to make informed and evidence-based decisions, a multi-centre research initiative (referred to as FOCA) has been set up to explore the successful integration of youth into education and employment. This plenary discusses the current and planned studies being undertaken through FOCA, as well as the data currently available and the possibilities for future collaboration.

28 May 2013

IWH Speaker Series

A classification of components of workplace disability management programs: Results from a systematic review

Merete Labriola, University of Aarhus, Denmark

A Campbell systematic review on the effectiveness of workplace disability management programs promoting return to work (RTW)—as implemented and practiced by employers—was published in 2012. Due to insufficient data, the systematic review was unable to determine if specific workplace-based programs or program elements improved RTW effectiveness. However, the studies of workplace programs included in the review were rich in describing RTW program components, procedures and implementation issues, allowing the researchers to develop a classification system for workplace-based programs that may help workplaces identify gaps in their RTW strategies. This plenary talks about the Campbell systematic review and the resulting classification system.

22 May 2013

IWH Speaker Series

Monitoring health inequities by socio-economic status: Lessons from Scotland

John Frank, Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy, University of Edinburgh

There is much enthusiasm globally for reducing health inequalities by socio-economic status. However, only a few jurisdictions internationally have put substantial effort into robustly monitoring such inequalities over several years. Scotland is perhaps the best example of a country that has. In this plenary, Dr. John Frank of the Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy presents the results of a half-decade of annual Scottish government reports on reducing health inequalities by socio-economic status (SES).

7 May 2013

IWH Speaker Series

Fairness in accommodating work injury and disability: What is perceived as fair and why do these perceptions matter?

Gail Hepburn, University of Lethbridge

Worker perceptions of organizational fairness are linked to a host of productive and counter-productive worker attitudes and behaviours (e.g. organizational commitment, absenteeism, theft, worker well-being), yet few studies have examined organizational fairness within the context of accommodating injured and ill workers. This plenary looks at recent research into the perceptions of fairness among both workers needing accommodation and their co-workers. It also explores the impact of these perceptions.