Dr. Lynda Robson
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 interests include using 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)
- Evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of Ontario’s working-at-heights training standard. Funded by Ontario Ministry of Labour. 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.
Publications
- Tompa E, Hogg-Johnson S, Amick B, Wang Y, Shen E, Mustard C, Robson LS. Financial incentives in workers' compensation: an analysis of the experience-rating programme in Ontario, Canada. Policy and Practice in Health and Safety. 2012;10(1):117-137.
- Robson LS, Macdonald S, Van Eerd D, Gray GC, Bigelow P. Something might be missing from occupational health and safety audits: findings from a content validity analysis of five audit instruments. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2010;52(5):536-543. doi:10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181dbc87c.
- Speers J, Robson LS, Mustard C. OHSCO System Performance Measurement Report 2008. Institute for Work & Health; 2010.
- Robson LS, Bigelow P. Measurement properties of occupational health and safety management audits: a systematic literature search and traditional literature synthesis. Canadian Journal of Public Health. 2010;101(0):S34-S40.
- Robson LS, Stephenson C, Schulte P, Amick B, Chan S, Bielecky A, Wang A, Heidotting T, Irvin E, Eggerth D, Peters R, Clarke J, Cullen KL, Boldt L, Rotunda C, Grubb P. Systematic review of the effectiveness of training and education for the protection of workers. Institute for Work & Health; 2010.
Speaker Series presentations
- A model of "breakthrough change" in workplace health and safety performance. IWH Speaker Series. May 13, 2014.
- A systematic review of the effectiveness of training and education for the protection of workers. IWH Speaker Series. March 9, 2010.
Interviews and articles
- What research can do: OHS change model informs WSPS’s approach to small businesses. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 92, Spring 2018.
- Making the business case for safety: Don't sacrifice safety for operations. OHS Insider: Bongarde Media (Penticton, BC). September 17, 2016. Available from: https://ohsinsider.com/insider-top-stories/making-business-case-safety-dont-sacrifice-safety-operations
- Employers that focus on both operations and safety don’t have to sacrifice either. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 85, Summer 2016.
- OPM follow-up questions now available to help firms act on leading indicator scores. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 84, Spring 2016.
- Managing your OHS program: A case study on breakthrough changes in safety. OHS Insider: Bongarde Media (Penticton, BC). April 20, 2016. Available from: https://ohsinsider.com/insider-top-stories/managing-ohs-program-case-study-breakthrough-changes-safety