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
- 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 the injury experience of Ontario small businesses through workers’ compensation claims data. Funded by Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD). Ongoing. (PI on the project)
- Occupational health and safety performance in Ontario's unionized construction sector. Funded by Ontario Construction Secretariat. Completed. (PI on the project)
- Evaluating the implementation of a participatory organizational change intervention in long-term care. Funded by Ontario Ministry of Labour, Centre for Research on the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD). Completed.
- 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
- 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
- OHS champion has pivotal role in breakthrough change: study. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 76, Spring 2014.
- Breakthrough change: Finding and describing firms that make large OHS improvements. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 70, Fall 2012.
- Training promotes safer practices. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 69, Summer 2012.
- Leading indicators may pinpoint positive differences in OHS practices. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 63, Winter 2011.
- IWH provides expertise to Ministry of Labour panel. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 62, Fall 2010.