1. Andrea Furlan, Institute for Work & Health (Toronto)
“Extension of Project ECHO Occupational and Environmental Medicine, and testing of a new clinical tool”
$299,350 over two years
Dr. Andrea Furlan, Scientist, Institute for Work & Health
Project summary
Preliminary results from the pilot ECHO (Extensions for Community Healthcare Outcomes) OEM (Occupational and Environmental Medicine) showed this program was successful. It was demonstrated that ECHO OEM is feasible, acceptable and effective in training primary care providers to support return to work and recovery. The evaluation of the program revealed a gap in primary care providers’ knowledge and capacity to take their patients’ occupational histories. Understanding occupational history is key to identifying healthcare and supporting return-to-work. To address this gap, an Occupational History Recording Tool (OHRT) was developed and pilot-tested among the ECHO OEM participants. The research team is proposing to offer ECHO OEM for an additional 2 years and test the OHRT.
2. Glen Kenny, University of Ottawa (Ottawa)
“Worker health and safety and maintaining operational capability in the heat: guidance for a warming climate”
$ 285,000 over two years
Dr. Glen Kenny, Professor and Research Chair, University of Ottawa
Project summary
Ontario workplaces rely on upper heat stress limits recommended by occupational safety agencies to manage worker health and safety in hot environments. However, no guidance is provided on safe initial stay times before heat-mitigation controls should be employed (rest, cooling). Further, the guidelines assume a one size fits all, failing to consider sex- and age-differences in physiological strain and fatigue that can affect heat tolerance. The research team will provide sex- and age-specific initial stay times and advice for the implementation of heat-mitigation controls during work in the heat, which includes introducing refinements for prolonged work shifts and consecutive workdays.
3. Tracy Lea Kirkham, Ontario Health (Toronto)
“Use of US National Exposure Databases to Improve Compensation and Prevention in Ontario Workplaces”
$283,412 over two years
Dr. Tracy Lea Kirkham, Associate Director and Senior Scientist, Ontario Health
Project summary
The purpose of this study is to investigate if freely available US workplace inspection exposure data can be used to estimate Ontario workers’ exposures. Assessing the appropriateness of using the US data to estimate Ontario exposures requires methodological checks to: 1) determine if the US exposures are comparable enough to estimate Ontario exposures, and 2) test the feasibility of preparing the US data for large-scale use to analyze multiple hazards, industries, and occupations in Ontario.
4. Peter Lapner, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (Ottawa)
“Revisiting Value and Efficacy (REVIVE) A Quality Improvement Initiative in Arthroscopic Cuff Repair”
$283,868 over two years
Dr. Peter Lapner, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Project summary
Tears of the rotator cuff tendons in the shoulder are extremely common, and repair of the cuff is the most performed shoulder surgery. Currently, in a cuff repair procedure, the number of anchors used (small implants used to repair the tendons) is highly variable between surgeons, as is the cost of each anchor, and as such, the cost of surgery is also highly variable. We aim to determine: (1) whether the use of additional anchors is associated with better outcomes, (2) whether the use of additional anchors is cost-effective, and (3) to implement a quality initiative providing feedback to surgeons informing them of their costs, and benefits of standardizing technique. It is imperative that a more uniform approach is adopted, which will lead to significantly lower costs and sizeable savings to the health care system.
5. Joy MacDermid, The University of Western Ontario (London)
“Validation of a Firefighter Work Limitations Questionnaire”
$207,786.50 over two years
Dr. Joy MacDermid, Professor, The University of Western Ontario
Project summary
Work limitations can be the first sign of changes in health and define the scope of safe and productive work. Work limitations can be measured by time-consuming, expensive field or lab- based tests that may not reflect the real world. Other measures require self-report to questions about work tasks, which is easier, cheaper and can measure the worker's perception of abilities across a range of tasks--some that cannot be simulated in lab tests. Current generic work limitations measures are not valid for firefighters because they do not ask about the unique tasks firefighters need to do to serve their communities, which is a barrier to achieving best practices in health and safety, or work accommodation. This study will develop and test a self-report tool to measure the Physical, Output, Interpersonal, Emotional and Cognitive Work Role Limitations experienced by firefighters.
6. Margaret McKinnon, McMaster University (Hamilton)
“A randomized control trial of a novel trauma focused Goal Management Training for PSP with PTSD”
$284,473.59 over two years
Dr. Margaret McKinnon, Professor, McMaster University
Project summary
Public Safety Personnel (PSP) face increased exposure to illness, violence and death compared to most members of the civilian population. This frequent exposure to trauma is associated with a host of mental health difficulties, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is a leading cause of disability among PSP. PTSD is associated with cognitive deficits in memory attention, learning and other areas of functioning, as well as decreased workplace productivity, loss of income and high healthcare costs. We propose to examine whether adding a trauma focused educational component to a well-established cognitive remediation strategy, Goal Management.
7. Thomas Tenkate, Toronto Metropolitan University (Toronto)
“Project SOS: Stressed Out Supervisors”
$153,107.12 over two years
Dr. Thomas Tenkate, Associate Professor, Toronto Metropolitan University
Project summary
The workplace has become very complex with workers working on-site, remotely or in hybrid arrangements. This has been very stressful for supervisors. The proposed study will build upon a 2021-2022 study conducted by the research team that found that supervisors reported poor psychological health during the COVID epidemic, and due to this, their basic supervisor OHS functions were mostly set aside. This study will examine the current role and sources of supervisor stress, how supervisors can help each other with best practices to reduce their stress, and the impact this support can have on OHS practices. Based on these finding a workshop outline along with a facilitator guidebook will be developed on supervisor best practices, and these will be made available via a dedicated website.