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
- 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.
Interviews and articles
- New IWH study looks at why companies make big improvements. OHS Insider: Bongarde Media (Penticton, BC). March 23, 2016. Available from: https://ohsinsider.com/search-by-index/safety-programs/new-iwh-study-looks-at-why-companies-make-big-ohs-improvements
- External influences motivate firms to improve OHS performance. Canadian Occupational Safety Newswire: Thomson Reuters Canada (Toronto, ON). March 17, 2016. Available from: http://www.cos-mag.com/safety/safety-stories/4969-external-influences-motivate-firms-to-improve-ohs-performance-study.html
- External factors influence improvements in workplace safety performance: IWH study. Canadian Chiropractor: Annex Business Media (Simcoe, ON). March 14, 2016. Available from: http://www.canadianchiropractor.ca/programs/external-factors-influence-improvements-in-workplace-safety-performance-iwh-study-4342
- Evidence-based questionnaire helps JHSCs pinpoint strengths, weaknesses. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 81, Summer 2015.
- Success stories offer new guidance to organizations on path of OHS change . At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 78, Fall 2014.