IWH strengthens relationship with Quebec-based counterpart

One of the Institute for Work & Health’s (IWH) key strategic directions for 2023 to 2027 is to strengthen the work and health research ecosystem. Another is to expand the reach and impact of IWH research. In a step towards both of these goals, IWH has signed a Master Cooperation Agreement with the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST).

Headquartered in Montreal, the IRSST is a Quebec non-profit research organization that shares IWH’s mission of contributing to occupational health and safety (OHS) through research and dissemination. The IRSST board of directors is equally composed of employer and worker representatives; its funding comes primarily from employer contributions to the province’s workers’ compensation system.

The IRSST is very pleased to be associated with IWH in this joint effort which fosters collaboration in research, knowledge transfer and mobilization on OHS topics of common interest. This collaborative agreement will promote the role and the influence of both research centres with stakeholders, decision-makers and workplaces in Canada and around the world, says Dr. Lyne Sauvageau, president and CEO of the IRSST.

When you look at the work and health research ecosystem in Canada, IWH and IRSST both have unique positions within this landscape, says Dr. Peter Smith, IWH president and senior scientist. Our multidisciplinary research environments allow us to focus on a broad suite of relevant work and health questions from worker, workplace and systems perspectives. We both also have a commitment to embedding knowledge, transfer and exchange activities throughout the research process, as well as dedicating resources to effectively communicating our findings to the audiences who can use them.

This agreement strengthens the relationship between IWH and IRSST, and establishes their intention to share resources, conduct joint research, and assist each other with knowledge transfer and exchange—all in service of a common goal to support safe and healthy work and workers.

It’s exciting to have a formalized relationship between our two organizations so that we can continue and increase our work together to produce great research that helps to create healthy, safe and inclusive work environments, says Smith.