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
- Shannon HS, Robson LS, Sale JEM. Creating safer and healthier workplaces: role of organizational factors and job characteristics. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2001;40:319-334. doi:10.1002/ajim.1106.
- Brooker AS, Cole DC, Eakin J, Kerr MS, Robson LS, Severin C, Shannon HS. What gets measured gets done: the Healthy Workplace Balanced Scorecard. Institute for Work & Health; 2000.
- Shannon HS, Robson LS, Guastello SJ. Methodological criteria for evaluating occupational safety intervention research. Safety Science. 1999;31(2):161-179.
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: IWH study on working at heights training well-received. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 114, Fall 2023.
- Study shows worker injuries due to falls from heights declined after Ontario made training standardized and mandatory. On-Site Magazine. November 6, 2023. Available from: https://www.on-sitemag.com/construction/1003980738/1003980738/
- Safer work practices, lower injury rates maintained two years after Ontario’s working-at-heights training came into effect: study. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 114, Fall 2023.
- Climate change could mean longer hours, stagnating wages. Rabble.ca. August 10, 2023. Available from: https://rabble.ca/labour/changing-climate-could-mean-longer-hours-stagnating-wages/
- Standardized working at heights training improves safety, study. Workers Health & Safety Centre. January 26, 2023. Available from: https://www.whsc.on.ca/What-s-new/News-Archive/Standardized-working-at-heights-training-improves-safety-study