Dr. Aviroop Biswas
Dr. Aviroop Biswas is a scientist at the Institute for Work & Health. He is also an assistant professor in epidemiology at the University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health.
Biswas obtained his PhD in health services research at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation. During his PhD studies, he received a doctoral research fellowship from the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and was a past recipient of the University of Toronto’s Ted Goldberg award for academic excellence and promise in health services research. Biswas was previously a Mustard post-doctoral fellow at the Institute for Work & Health (2017-2019).
Biswas’s research at the Institute aspires to improve the sustainability of employment and the prevention of future worker injury and chronic disease by informing health promotion activities related to healthy physical activity and worker wellbeing. His recent research projects include examining how different workers’ daily activity profiles are associated their risk of chronic disease, understanding how workplace wellbeing champions can support engagement and participation among their colleagues, and how different work arrangements (including telework) shape work-life balance and wellbeing. His studies have primarily involved the analysis of survey and administrative data, machine learning, as well as systematic reviews.
“Worker health goes beyond simply thinking about protecting workers from the hazards of work. Unhealthy living not only increases the risk of preventable disease, but is also a major cause of workplace absence and injury. The challenge is to convince employers that the health and well-being of workers is in the best interests of the workplace to promote.” – Dr. Avi Biswas
Projects
- Using decision-tree machine learning to identify worker movement typologies . Ongoing. (PI on the project)
- Do work exposures and their effects differ for men and women? A systematic review. Funded by WorkSafeBC. Completed. (PI on the project)
- Improving information on the incidence of work-related injuries and illnesses in Ontario. Funded by Ontario Ministry of Labour Research Opportunities Program . Completed.
- Developing recommendations for an integrated approach to workplace health protection and health promotion. Funded by Alberta OHS Future. Completed. (PI on the project)
Publications
- Biswas A, Begum M, Van Eerd D, Johnston H, Smith PM, Gignac MA. Integrating safety and health promotion in workplaces: a scoping review of facilitators, barriers, and recommendations. Health Promotion Practice. 2022;23(6):984-998. doi:10.1177/15248399211028154.
- Pentland V, Spilsbury S, Biswas A, Mottola MF, Paplinskie S, Mitchell MS. Does walking reduce postpartum depressive symptoms? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Women's Health. 2022;31(4):555-563. doi:10.1089/jwh.2021.0296.
- Biswas A, Harbin S, Irvin E, Johnston H, Begum M, Tiong M, Apedaile D, Koehoorn M, Smith PM. Sex and gender differences in occupational hazard exposures: a scoping review of the recent literature. Current Environmental Health Reports. 2021;8(4):267-280. doi:10.1007/s40572-021-00330-8.
- Prince SA, Biswas A. The role of occupational physical activity on longevity. Lancet.Public Health. 2021;6(8):e544. doi:10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00156-0.
- Prince SA, Rasmussen CL, Biswas A, Holtermann A, Aulakh T, Merucci K, Coenen P. The effect of leisure time physical activity and sedentary behaviour on the health of workers with different occupational physical activity demands: a systematic review. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2021;18(1):100. doi:10.1186/s12966-021-01166-z.
Speaker Series presentations
- How the physical and social environment shape commuters' choices to bike or walk. IWH Speaker Series. October 15, 2024.
- Is there an optimal daily movement pattern for heart health? A study of Canadian workers' activity tracker data. IWH Speaker Series. June 14, 2022.
- The health paradox of physically demanding work: What is it and should we be concerned?. IWH Speaker Series. May 11, 2021.
- Developing practical recommendations for integrating workplace safety and wellness initiatives. IWH Speaker Series. February 18, 2020.
- Do workplace facilities and health promotion programs help workers be physically active?. IWH Speaker Series. November 7, 2017.
Interviews and articles
- Emerging evidence points to negative health effects of physical work demands . At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 105, Summer 2021.
- Sitting or standing too much at work? New video addresses ways to lower associated health risks. Safety + Health. December 27, 2018. Available from: https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17906-sitting-or-standing-too-much-at-work-new-video-addresses-ways-to-lower-associated-health-risks
- Grant round-up: Emerging issues and innovative prevention approaches seen in latest IWH projects. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 94, Fall 2018.
- Workplace facilities and environments can help workers exercise during off-hours. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 92, Spring 2018.
- Researcher on health risks of sedentary life shifts focus to workplace interventions. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 88, Spring 2017.