Dr. Basak Yanar
Dr. Basak Yanar is a scientist at the Institute for Work & Health, and an assistant professor in the division of Social and Behavioural Health Sciences in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. She holds a PhD in organizational behaviour and human resource management from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.
Yanar’s research focuses on migration, work, and occupational health and safety (OHS). She studies the working conditions of newcomers to Canada and the role played by employers, the settlement sector and the OHS prevention system in promoting safe work integration of recent immigrants and refugees. Her current program of research explores workplace health and safety within the context of linguistic and cultural diversity and how employers can foster inclusive safety practices. As a social scientist with disciplinary training in organizational behaviour, Yanar is also interested in the psychosocial work environment and the ways organizations can promote healthier and safer workplaces.
Yanar is a qualitative researcher with a keen interest in collaboration with community organizations, employers and system partners in developing solutions to improve the health and safety of immigrant workers.
![Photo of Basak Yanar](/sites/iwh/files/styles/portrait_hidpi/public/iwh/images/people/yanar_basak_2022.jpg?h=7fe3a1da&itok=4gMh7YVh)
“Thinking about occupational health and safety in Canada, it is impossible not to think of immigrant workers. As Canada continues to rely on immigration for its economic growth, we need to understand how to better promote safety in linguistically and culturally diverse workplaces, and address the vulnerable working conditions immigrants find themselves in, whether they have recently arrived or not.” – Dr. Basak Yanar
Projects
- Understanding how new businesses start managing OHS: laying the groundwork for future interventions . Funded by Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). Ongoing. (PI on the project)
- Understanding OHS motivations and needs in small business . Funded by Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. Ongoing. (PI on the project)
- Estimating the financial benefits of OHS prevention expenditures: a study of Ontario employers. Funded by Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario. Completed.
- Role of employers and settlement agencies in safe employment integration. Completed. (PI on the project)
- Strengthening disability management in Ontario’s municipal sector. Funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Social Sciences Humanities Research Council Signature Initiative. Completed.
Publications
- Van Eerd D, Le Pouésard M, Yanar B, Irvin E, Gignac MA, Jetha A, Morose T, Tompa E. Return-to-work experiences in Ontario policing: injured but not broken. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation. 2024;34(1):265–277. doi:10.1007/s10926-023-10135-1.
- Jetha A, Navaratnerajah L, Shahidi FV, Carnide N, Biswas A, Yanar B, Siddiqi A. Racial and ethnic inequities in the return-to-work of workers experiencing injury or illness: a systematic review. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation. 2023;33(3):432-449. doi:10.1007/s10926-023-10119-1.
- Mustard C, Yanar B. Estimating the financial benefits of employers' occupational health and safety expenditures. Safety Science. 2023;159:106008. doi:10.1016/j.ssci.2022.106008.
- Yanar B, Nasir K, Massoud A, Usmani S, Premji S, Smith PM. Employers' experiences with safe work integration of recent immigrants and refugees. Safety Science. 2022;155:105856. doi:10.1016/j.ssci.2022.105856.
- Kosny A, Yanar B, Begum M, Al-khooly D, Premji S, Lay M, Smith PM. Safe employment integration of recent immigrants and refugees. Journal of International Migration and Integration. 2020;21(3):807-827. doi:10.1007/s12134-019-00685-w.
Speaker Series presentations
- Understanding OHS motivations and needs in small businesses. IWH Speaker Series. March 19, 2024.
- Estimating the financial benefits of OHS spending: a study of Ontario employers . IWH Speaker Series. February 14, 2023.
- Safe work integration of newcomers: Employer perspectives. IWH Speaker Series. October 13, 2020.
- Capacity building and evaluation of OHS training in settlement agencies. IWH Speaker Series. January 28, 2020.
- Safe employment integration of recent immigrants and refugees. IWH Speaker Series. October 31, 2017.
Interviews and articles
- Employers struggle to provide newcomers with OHS training, support: IWH study. Construction Comment: Ottawa Construction Association. February 1, 2023. Available from: https://oca.ca/constructioncomment/archive/2023/2023-02/index.html
- Report urges worker safety while respecting cultural differences. Daily Commercial News. January 18, 2023. Available from: https://canada.constructconnect.com/dcn/news/labour/2023/01/report-urges-worker-safety-while-respecting-cultural-differences
- Employers struggle to provide newcomers with OHS training, support: IWH study. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 110, Fall 2022.
- IWH estimates point to positive return on OHS investment in three Ontario sectors. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 109, Summer 2022.
- Study finds positive ROI in workplace safety and health in three key sectors. Safety+Health. June 1, 2022.