IWH Speaker Series

The IWH Speaker Series is your opportunity to learn about the latest findings from work and health researchers from the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) and beyond. These live-stream webinars, which typically take place on Tuesdays from 11.00 a.m. to noon EST, allow you to hear about new research directly from the scientist(s) involved, and give you a chance to ask questions about the meaning and interpretation of the findings. For those unable to attend, recorded webinars of most IWH Speaker Series presentations are made available on the related web page within a week of the event.

Upcoming webinars

27 May 2025

Preventing PTSI work disability at first responder organizations: an environmental scan

Emile Tompa, Institute for Work & Health

Due to the nature of their work, first responders ( paramedics, police and firefighters) are routinely exposed to traumatizing experiences. As a result, they are at a much greater risk of work disability associated with post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI) than the general population. However, we currently know little about how to effectively support first responders in work disability prevention and the management of occupational stress and mental health. In this presentation, Dr. Emile Tompa shares findings from an environmental scan of current programs, services and practices in first responder organizations. Through a synthesis of the research literature to date and interviews with experts in English-speaking jurisdictions (including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia), the scan sets out to learn about organizational-level programs, services, and practices for first responders. It also looks at the contextual factors—for example, the key actors, processes, barriers and facilitators—that can have a positive or negative impact on the programs, services and practices.