Scientists at the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) are experts in many workplace health, safety and disability prevention topics, including injury prevention, return to work, workers' compensation, labour market trends and more. Listed below are the Institute's areas of research expertise, along with the scientists specializing in each area and their particular niches within it. To set up an interview with a scientist, please see the contact information at the bottom of the page.
PREVENTING INJURY AND ILLNESS
Preventing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
- Dr. Ben Amick: ergonomics, training, workplace interventions
- Emma Irvin: workplace interventions, upper extremity MSDs
- Dwayne Van Eerd: participatory ergonomics, training, office ergonomics, workplace interventions
Effective OHS practices
- Dr. Ben Amick: leading indicators, training, OHS policies and procedures, safety culture/climate, worksite interventions
- Dr. Lynda Robson: leading indicators, organizational change, training, management systems, evaluation, auditing
- Dr. Emile Tompa: economic evaluation
Vulnerable workers
- Dr. Curtis Breslin: young/new workers, small business
- Dr. Monique Gignac: older workers, workers with chronic illnesses (especially arthritis)
- Dr. Agnieszka Kosny: newcomers/immigrant workers
- Dr. Cam Mustard: newcomers/immigrant workers
- Dr. Ron Saunders: workers with low literacy, newcomers, older workers
- Dr. Peter Smith: newcomers/immigrant workers, young/new workers, older workers
- Dr. Emile Tompa: workers with permanent injuries
Regulation and incentives
- Dr. Curtis Breslin: cross-jurisdictional OHS comparisons
- Dr. Sheilah Hogg-Johnson: high-risk firms
- Dr. Chris McLeod: enforcement, OHS policy, OHS management systems
- Dr. Cam Mustard: OHS regulatory systems, labour market trends
- Dr. Lynda Robson: OHS auditing systems, OHS management systems
- Dr. Peter Smith: labour market trends
- Dr. Emile Tompa: enforcement, regulatory systems, financial incentives
Working conditions and health
- Dr. Cam Mustard: shift work, work injury by time of day, mortality
- Dr. Peter Smith: psychosocial work environment, trends
- Dr. Emile Tompa: precarious work
PREVENTING AND MANAGING DISABILITY
Return-to-work (RTW) and stay-at-work practices
- Dr. Ben Amick: RTW policies and procedures
- Dr. Dorcas Beaton: skills training, arthritis, worker productivity
- Dr. Monique Gignac: arthritis, diabetes, chronic conditions, older workers
- Dr. Vicki Kristman: RTW programs, role of supervisors, prognosis
- Dr. Agnieszka Kosny: role of health-care professionals and other stakeholders in RTW
Clinical treatment
- Dr. Dorcas Beaton: upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders
- Dr. Andrea Furlan: chronic pain, low-back pain, neuropathic pain, opioid management
Compensation and benefits
- Dr. Sheilah Hogg-Johnson: long-duration claims, recurring claims
- Dr. Agnieszka Kosny: social consequences of work injury
- Dr. Chris McLeod: experience rating, work disability policy, long-duration claims
- Dr. Cam Mustard: trends, incidence, benefits adequacy, work disability policy
- Dr. Emile Tompa: financial incentives, experience rating, social and economic consequences of work injury, work disability policy, benefits adequacy
Measuring health and function
- Dr. Dorcas Beaton: upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders, arthritis, work disability limitations, work disability measurement tools/scales
- Dr. Monique Gignac: arthritis, chronic illness, work-health-personal life role participation, job stress, workplace activity limitations
RESEARCH METHODS
Knowledge transfer and exchange
Quantitative research/statistical methods
Qualitative research methods
Systematic reviews
To arrange an interview with one of our experts, please contact:
Cindy Moser
Communications Manager
416-927-2027, ext. 2183
cmoser@iwh.on.ca
Uyen Vu
Communications Associate
613-979-7742
uvu@iwh.on.ca
