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Addressing essential skills gaps in an OHS training program: a pilot study

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Institute for Work & Health
481 University Avenue, Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario

Ron Saunders
Institute for Work & Health

Siobhan Cardoso
Institute for Work & Health

Morgane Le Pouésard
Institute for Work & Health

Can an occupational health and safety (OHS) training program be improved by modifying it to address gaps in essential skills? In a recent study, a research team led by Dr. Ron Saunders modified a hoisting and rigging training program offered by the LIUNA Local 506 training centre. The changes were made to address trainees’ skills gaps in numeracy and document use that were related to the job. In this plenary, the team share findings regarding the effect of modifying the curriculum on trainee learning and discuss suggestions for improving training efforts within the construction sector.

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Addressing essential skills gaps in an OHS training program(1.57 MB)

About presenter

Dr. Ron Saunders is the KTE director and a senior scientist at the Institute for Work & Health. A policy expert specializing in labour issues, Saunders was previously the vice-president of research at the Canadian Policy Research Network (CPRN). He currently holds an appointment as associate professor in the School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Toronto.

Photo of Siobhan Cardoso

Siobhan Cardoso is the research operations manager responsible for planning and reporting, as well as a knowledge exchange associate, at the Institute for Work & Health.

Since joining the Institute, she has worked on several qualitative studies, focusing on organizational change and knowledge use in occupational health and safety. As part of the Institute's Knowledge Transfer and Exchange Department, she has also been involved in knowledge transfer activities, particularly engaging stakeholders in research projects and outreach events.

Photo of Morgane Le Pouesard

Morgane Le Pouésard is a project coordinator at the Institute for Work & Health. 

Le Pouésard is currently supporting several Institute scientists on a range of research projects.  

Prior to joining the Institute in 2017, Le Pouésard earned a master’s degree at Ryerson University. She previously worked as a qualitative researcher in the Faculty of Community Services at the Toronto Metropolitan University.

Related project

Addressing literacy and numeracy gaps among workers in an OHS training program: a pilot study. Funded by Ontario Ministry of Labour's Research Opportunities Program, Max Bell Foundation. Completed in 2017.

About IWH Speaker Series

The IWH Speaker Series brings you the latest findings from work and health researchers from the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) and beyond. For those unable to attend, the recorded webinar of most presentations in the IWH Speaker Series are made available on its web page within a week of the event.