Dr. Dwayne Van Eerd
Dr. Dwayne Van Eerd is a scientist at the Institute for Work & Health, where he has been a researcher since 1997. He is also a guest senior researcher with the National Research Centre for the Working Environment in Denmark and an assistant professor (status) in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto. He has an MSc and BSc in kinesiology from the University of Waterloo, an MSc in health research methodology from McMaster University, and a PhD in work and health from the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo.
Upon getting his MSc in kinesiology, Van Eerd got his start in occupational health and safety research in a clinical setting, studying musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of the upper body in musicians, painters, writers and other artists. Now a scientist with the Institute for Work & Health, he focuses primarily on the prevention of work-related injuries, as well as on the implementation of programs and practices to prevent work injury and disability related to physical and mental health.
His research projects include evaluations of workplace MSD and mental health practices/programs and their implementation, and systematic reviews of the prevention literature. Van Eerd also practices and researches integrated knowledge transfer and exchange.
“As a kinesiologist specializing in the multidisciplinary treatment of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) for a variety of clients, including performing artists, I felt an evidence-based approach was important. But I was consistently frustrated by the lack of good quality research to help guide my practice. Coming from a strong science program enabled me to pursue small research projects in the clinical setting, which led me to look for more research opportunities—and ultimately, to IWH.” – Dr. Dwayne Van Eerd
Projects
- Future-focused job accommodation practices for the school-to-work transition. Funded by Accessibility Standards Canada (Government of Canada). Ongoing.
- Implementation of a comprehensive accommodation and reintegration program in a police service. Funded by Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). Ongoing. (PI on the project)
- Implementation of PTSI programs in Alberta first responder organizations. Funded by Government of Alberta. Ongoing. (PI on the project)
- Incentives-based approaches to support stay at work/return to work: an environmental scan. Funded by Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD), WorkSafeBC. Ongoing. (PI on the project)
- Inclusive Design for Employment Access (IDEA): A social innovation lab to increase demand-side capacity to employ persons with disabilities in Canada. Funded by New Frontiers in Research Fund (a Tri-Agency Program—CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC). Ongoing.
Publications
- Irvin E, Greiner BA, Furlan AD, Montano C, Amick B, Van Eerd D, Mahood Q. Alcohol and drug screening of occupational drivers for preventing work-related injury. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2012 CD010043-.
- Van Eerd D, Hogg-Johnson S, Cole DC, Wells R, Mazumder A. Comparison of occupational exposure methods relevant to musculoskeletal disorders: worker-workstation interaction in an office environment. Journal of Electromyography Kinesiology. 2012;22(2):176-185. doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2011.12.001.
- Van Eerd D, Cote P, Kristman VL, Rezai M, Hogg-Johnson S, Vidmar M, Beaton DE. The course of work absenteeism involving neck pain. A cohort study of Ontario lost-time claimants. Spine. 2011;36(12):977-982. doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181e9b831.
- Van Eerd D, Cole DC, Keown K, Irvin E, Kramer D, Gibson J, Kohn M, Mahood Q, Slack T, Amick B, Phipps D, Garcia J, Morassaei S. Report on knowledge transfer and exchange practices: a systematic review of the quality and types of instruments used to assess KTE implementation and impact . Institute for Work & Health; 2011.
- Beaton DE, Van Eerd D, Smith PM, van der Velde G, Cullen KL, Kennedy CA, Hogg-Johnson S. Minimal change is sensitive, less specific to recovery: a diagnostic testing approach to interpretability. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 2011;64(5):487-496. doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2010.07.012.
Speaker Series presentations
- Return to work in Ontario police services: Current experiences and practices. IWH Speaker Series. October 18, 2022.
- Systematic review of workplace interventions to manage depression. IWH Speaker Series. January 30, 2018.
- Perspectives on using occupational health and safety research. IWH Speaker Series. February 17, 2015.
Interviews and articles
- Users of IWH’s participatory ergonomics guide report better awareness of key steps. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 82, Fall 2015.
- Exercise to ease MSD pain. Health and Safety Report: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (Hamilton, ON). November 1, 2015. Available from: https://www.ccohs.ca/newsletters/hsreport/issues/2015/11/ezine.html
- Practitioners in workplace health and safety value research in decisions but lack for time. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 80, Spring 2015.
- Systematic review looks for KTE evaluation tools. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 65, Summer 2011.
- A bridge from the “ivory tower”: involving communities in research. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 54, Fall 2008.