Dr. Lynda Robson
Scientist
PhD, Biochemistry, University of Toronto
Staff email
Staff extension
416-927-2027 ext. 2164
Dr. Lynda Robson is a scientist at the Institute for Work & Health, where she has worked since 1997. She is an adjunct professor in the School of Occupational and Public Health at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is also a member of the Canadian Standards Association Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (Z45001) Technical Committee.
Robson obtained her PhD in biochemistry from the University of Toronto, but later changed fields through additional education at the university's former Graduate Department of Community Health.
Robson's research uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to study occupational health and safety (OHS) management, organizational change in OHS and the evaluation of prevention programs, especially OHS training programs.
“The lab research in which I was involved, though ultimately intended to benefit people, was in itself lacking in the social/human dimension. Now, I often study people and their organizations, and more often interact with users of the research, and I find that personally rewarding." – Dr. Lynda Robson
Projects
- Champions as social agents of change: what can we learn from worker well-being initiatives?. Funded by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Ongoing.
- Evaluating the effectiveness of distance learning in delivering Ontario's JHSC certification training. Funded by Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development. Ongoing. (PI on the project)
- Occupational injury risks in Ontario. Funded by Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD). Ongoing.
- Programs of early OHS intervention with small businesses. Funded by WorkSafeBC. Ongoing.
- 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)
Publications
- Robson LS, Chen C, Mustard C, Shahidi FV, Landsman V, Smith PM, Biswas A. Differences in the effectiveness of three OHS training delivery methods. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2025 epub ahead of print. doi:10.1002/ajim.23719.
- Yanar B, Mustard C, Hossain S, Robson LS, Begum M. Participation in the Health and Safety Excellence Small Business Program: Understanding small business motivations and needs. Institute for Work & Health; 2024.
- Shahidi FV, Liao Q, Landsman V, Mustard C, Robson LS, Biswas A, Smith PM. Precarious employment and the workplace transmission of COVID-19: evidence from workers' compensation claims in Ontario, Canada. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. 2024;78(11):675-681. doi:10.1136/jech-2024-222373.
- Shahidi FV, Liao Q, Landsman V, Mustard C, Robson LS, Biswas A, Smith PM. Is precarious employment an occupational hazard? Evidence from Ontario, Canada. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2024;81(8):381-387. doi:10.1136/oemed-2024-109535.
- Smith PM, Liao Q, Shahidi FV, Biswas A, Robson LS, Landsman V, Mustard C. Variation in occupational exposure risk for COVID-19 workers' compensation claims across pandemic waves in Ontario. Occupational & Environmental Medicine. 2024;81(4):171-177. doi:10.1136/oemed-2023-109243.
Speaker Series presentations
- Is in-person training more effective than online training? Findings from a study of Ontario workers. IWH Speaker Series. September 19, 2023.
- Preventing falls from heights in construction: a long-term evaluation of Ontario's working-at-heights training standard. IWH Speaker Series. December 13, 2022.
- The union effect on safety in the ICI construction sector: a study update. IWH Speaker Series. January 12, 2021.
- Evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of Ontario’s working-at-heights training standards. IWH Speaker Series. February 26, 2019.
- Managing safety and operations: The effect of joint management system practices on safety and operational outcomes. IWH Speaker Series. November 8, 2016.
Research summaries
- OPM follow-up questions now available to help firms act on leading indicator scores. At Work article: Institute for Work & Health, April 2016.
- Evidence-based questionnaire helps JHSCs pinpoint strengths, weaknesses. At Work article: Institute for Work & Health, August 2015.
- Success stories offer new guidance to organizations on path of OHS change . At Work article: Institute for Work & Health, November 2014.
- OHS champion has pivotal role in breakthrough change: study. At Work article: Institute for Work & Health, May 2014.
- Breakthrough change: Finding and describing firms that make large OHS improvements. At Work article: Institute for Work & Health, October 2012.
Media coverage
- Inquest witness pressed on Working at Heights training outcomes. Daily Commercial News. February 3, 2022. Available from: https://canada.constructconnect.com/dcn/news/ohs/2022/02/inquest-witness-pressed-on-working-at-heights-training-outcomes
- How does unionization make a difference with workplace safety?. Canadian HR Reporter. April 12, 2021. Available from: https://www.hrreporter.com/labour/news/how-does-unionization-make-a-difference-with-workplace-safety/354870
- How does unionization make a difference with workplace safety?. Canadian HR Reporter. April 12, 2021. Available from: https://www.hrreporter.com/labour/news/how-does-unionization-make-a-difference-with-workplace-safety/354870
- Regulated working at heights training works and needed: studies. Workers Health & Safety Centre. April 9, 2019. Available from: https://www.whsc.on.ca/What-s-new/News-Archive/Regulated-working-at-heights-training-works-i-and-i-needed-studies
- WAH training standards show 'significant' results: IWH. Daily Commercial News: ConstructConnect (Markham, ON). March 12, 2019. Available from: https://canada.constructconnect.com/dcn/news/labour/2019/03/wah-training-standards-show-significant-results-iwh