Research Projects Funded in 2005
Management Practices and Work Organization
Prevention of Work-Related Injuries
Prevention of Work-Related Diseases
Improvement in Diagnosis, Treatment, and Rehabilitation
Return to Work, Fair Compensation of Injured Workers, and Appropriate Assessment of Employers
Knowledge Transfer and Exchange
Management Practices and Work Organization
Stepping into Health: the Search for a More Effective Worksite Physical Activity Intervention
The main purpose of the proposed study is to examine whether an internet-based program for promoting physical activity is as, or more, effective than a traditional work-site intervention pro-gram in relation to work absenteeism, physical activity levels, stage of behaviour change, self-efficacy, job satisfaction and job stress.
Principal Investigator: Tanya R. Berry (University of Alberta)
Co-Investigators: Jill Tracey, Kemberley A. Dawson, Marilyn Jacobs, Kathryn Zettel, Stephanie Kibbee (Wilfrid Laurier University)
Sponsoring Institution: University of Alberta
One-Year Funding: $27,872.50
Mine Rescue Control Group Training
The objective of this proposal is to use virtual reality technique as support in mine evacuation situations. The plan devised into two areas: (1) to develop a process to bring in mine data into a VR model and to create automatically the informa-tion required by mine rescue control groups, and (2) to define the communication needed between rescue teams and mine rescue control groups. There will be several outcomes including automated generation of VR models from mine 3-D models, and automated incorpo-ration of smoke transport as a result of the actual mine ventilation network.
Principal Investigator: Paul G. Dunn (Laurentian University)
Co-Investigators: Tammy Eger (Laurentian University); Alex Gryska (Mines and Aggregates Safety and Health Association)
Sponsoring Institution: Laurentian University
Two-Year Funding: $236,551.68
Evaluation of an HSA-Initiated Collaborative Partnership to Implement Participatory Ergonomic Programs
This proposal builds on previous research by several of the co-investigators dealing with an ergonomic intervention evaluation. The purpose of the research is to develop successful strategies for implementing participatory ergonomic programs in companies by under-standing the barriers and the facilitators to successful implementation.
Principal Investigator: Philip L. Bigelow (Institute for Work & Health)
Co-Investigators: Donald Cole, Sue Ferrier, Renée-Louise Franche, Dov Zohar (Institute for Work & Health); Mardon Frazer, Desre Kramer, Nancy Theberge, Richard Wells (University of Waterloo); Wendy Lee, Shannon Maracle (Electrical & Utilities Safety Association)
Sponsoring Institution: Institute for Work & Health
Two-Year Funding: $292,908.00
Evaluation of the Impact of a Participatory Ergonomics Intervention in a Medium Size Facility
This project will monitor the effect of establishing a participative ergonomics change team within a medium sized auto parts manufacturing facility. The research team will monitor activities, document the workplace’s response, track implementation, and assess effectiveness. Information gathered through the process will be used to help convert the relevant background research on participative ergonomics into a practical guide, in the form of a handbook, on establishing of participative ergonomic change teams in the auto parts sector in general.
Principal Investigator: David Mijatovic (Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers)
Co-Investigators: Richard Wells (University of Waterloo); Donald Cole (Institute for Work & Health); Syed Naqvi (Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers)
Sponsoring Institution: Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers
One-Year Funding: $36,650.00
Developing Standardized Metrics for Work Disability Management Benchmarking
Lack of standardization of measures and inconsistencies across work disability management data systems pose challenges for workplace parties, insurers, and researchers trying to estimate the total burden of work disability and improve work disability management practices. The project will establish a benchmarking collaborative that would standardize recording and reporting of work disability management metrics in ways that meet the needs of workplaces, their organizations, and researchers.
Principal Investigator: Donald C. Cole (Institute for Work & Health)
Co-Investigators: Liz Scott (Organizational Solutions); Andrew Clarke (Clarke, Brown & Associates); Sheilah Hogg-Johnson (Institute for Work & Health)
Sponsoring Institution: Institute for Work & Health
One-Year Funding: $59,932.00
Evaluating 'Mental Health Works': A Feasibility Study
This preliminary study will explore the feasibility of a larger-scale study on the effectiveness of educational and behavioural mental health interventions.
Principal Investigator: Bernadette Stringer (McMaster University)
Co-Investigators: Ted Haines, Andrea Baumann, Ron Goeree, Nick Kates, Wayne Lewchuk, Harriett MacMillan, Harry Shannon (McMaster University); Victor Catano, Mark Fleming, Lori Francis (St. Mary’s University); Bonnie Kirsh (University of Toronto); Terry Krupa (Queen’s University); Donna Lero (University of Guelph); Chantal Viens (Université Laval); Martin Shain (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health)
Sponsoring Institution: McMaster University
One-Year Funding: $30,000.00
Prevention of Work-Related Injuries
Optimal Installation of Auditory Warning Devices to Improve Safety in the Workplace
The research aims to arrive at a functional solution for the common workplace problem of situation and environment appropriate identification and placement of work-related auditory warning signal devices. Knowledge gained from this research project should contribute to a more reliable protocol for assisting practitioners with the selection and placement of audible warning signals in noisy work environments.
Principal Investigator: Christian Giguère (University of Ottawa)
Co-Investigator: Chantal Laroche (University of Ottawa)
Sponsoring Institution: University of Ottawa
Two-Year Funding: $146,863.00
Powerline Maintainer’s gloves: Approaches to Reducing Hand Loading, Improving Performance, and Reducing Musculoskeletal Disorder Risk Factors
This project aims to assess different combinations of rubber insulating gloves and leather protective outer gloves used by workers who perform maintenance of elec-trical power lines. The assessment will look into the risk factors for developing musculo-skeletal injuries to the upper limbs because of increased hand loading when opening and closing the hand. The expected result of this experiment is new knowledge on the effect of glove thickness, size and design on performance and perceived comfort.
Principal Invgestigator: Richard P. Wells (University of Waterloo)
Co-Investigators: Mardon Frazer, Heather Carnahan (University of Waterloo); Shannon J. Maracle, Wendy K. Dunk (Electrical & Utilities Safety Association)
Sponsoring Institution: University of Waterloo
One-Year Funding: $36,350.00
Occupational Exposures of Six Degree-of-Freedom (Multi-Axis) Whole-Body Vibration: Relationship between Exposures and Comfort
This project will evaluate the relationship between multi-axial whole body vibration (WBV), seating design, and operator comfort. Workplace exposure to WBV poses a significant health problem. Many studies evaluated the effects of single–axis vibration, but none have addressed the interaction of vibrations in several degrees of freedom simultaneously.
Principal Investigator: James P. Dickey (University of Guelph)
Co-Investigators: Tammy Eger (Laurentian University); Sylvain G. Grenier (Laurentian University/Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers); Michele L. Oliver (University of Guelph); Paul-Emile Boileau (Institut de recherche Robert Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail); Alan Salmoni (University of Western Ontario); Peter Vi (Construction Safety Association of Ontario)
Sponsoring Institution: University of Guelph
Two-Year Funding: $253,930.00
Validation of a New Strategy to Acquire On-Line Peak and Cumulative Loading for Manual Handling Tasks in Industrial Settings
In this proposal the authors seek funding to develop and validate a portable system for data acquisition using recent developments in inertial motion sensor technology.
Principal Investigator: Joan M. Stevenson (Queen’s University)
Co-Investigators: Nicholas Troje, Evelyn L. Morin, J. Timothy Bryant (Queen's University); Tammy Eger (Laurentian University)
Sponsoring Institution: Queen’s University
Two-Year Funding: $272,320.00
Numerical Model Development of a Heavy Mining Vehicle Multipiece Rim and Wheel Assembly for Structural Analysis
This project will incorporate experimental and numerical research efforts to better understand the mechanical response of a heavy mining vehicle’s multipiece rim/wheel assembly when subjected to operating and laboratory controlled loading conditions. The main objective of this project is to develop an engineering tool to understand the current structural capabilities of multipiece rim/wheel assemblies and to help develop future heavy mining rim/wheel assemblies such that their structural capabilities greatly reduce the possibility of explosion and result in safer conditions for operation and maintenance.
Principal Investigator: William J. Altenhof (University of Windsor)
Sponsoring Institution: University of Windsor
One-Year Funding: $30,000.00
Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention for Sign Language Interpreters
Musculoskeletal injuries have been recognized as an occupational hazard of sign language interpreting. The work involves repetitive movement of the hands, arms, shoulders, head, face, and — when interpreting from sign language to spoken language — voice. Both directions of interpretation impose considerable mental workload to manage the language flowing between the communicators. This project will compile up-to-date information on musculoskeletal injury prevention relevant to sign interpreting in multimedia form combining printed reference material and online video illustration.
Principal Investigator: Kathryn Woodcock (Ryerson University)
Sponsoring Institution: Ryerson University
One-Year Funding: $29,370.00
Prevention of Work-Related Diseases
Development of Permeation Passive Samplers for Occupational Exposure Monitoring of Complex Mixtures of Volatile Organic Compounds
This project seeks to develop a permeation sampling device for organic vapours and to evaluate its performance in laboratory and field settings. The samplers will be evaluated in a field setting with exposure to complex mixtures of organic vapours.
Principal Investigator: Tadeusz Gorecki (University of Waterloo)
Sponsoring Institution: University of Waterloo
One-Year Funding: $29,843.00
Radiation Exposure and Risk of Cancer among Ontario Uranium Miners: a Case-Cohort Study
This project aims to assess the association between alpha particle and gamma radiation exposure and cancer incidence and mortality in uranium miners employed in Ontario from 1954. Individual exposures will be ascertained by combining data from the Mining Master File and the National Dose Registry for the period 1968 to the present.
Principal Investigator: Loraine Marrett (Cancer Care Ontario)
Co-Investigators: Jennifer Payne (Cancer Care Ontario); John McLaughlin (Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute)
Sponsoring Institution: Cancer Care Ontario
Two-Year Funding: $46,423.00
Review of Trends in Work-Related Asthma Claims and Possible Role of Medical Surveillance
This proposal has three main aims: (1) to determine whether the previously observed decline in accepted claims for occupa-tional asthma due to diisocyanate exposures (subject to a mandated surveillance pro-gram) has continued, with a comparison to claims for occupational asthma due to other exposures (with no mandated surveillance); (2) to determine if there are differences in severity, duration, and treatment between these two groups of occupational asthma; and (3) to describe the characteristics of work-aggravated asthma, in terms of the demo-graphics of the cases, disease severity, and causal exposures.
Principal Investigators: Susan M. Tarlo, Gary M. Liss (University of Toronto)
Co-Investigators: Carol Luce (Workplace Safety & Insurance Board)
Sponsoring Institution: University of Toronto
Two-Year Funding: $143,014.00
Simultaneous Exposure Measurement of Noise, Hand-Arm Vibration, and Musculoskeletal Loads in Boilermakers
Boilermakers are often exposed to high noise, vibration levels, and musculoskeletal loads. This can result in noise-induced hearing loss, hand-arm vibration syndrome, and musculoskeletal disorders. The main objective of this project is to help employers, unions, and industry understand the types and intensity of noise, vibration, and musculoskeletal hazards on construction sites where boilermakers work. Information gathered from the study will help workers and employers identify high-risk activities on construction sites so they can target specific tasks and tools for control and prevention.
Principal Investigator: Alan W. Salmoni (University of Western Ontario)
Co-Investigators: Phillip Bigelow (Institute for Work & Health); Peter Vi, Dru Sahai (Construction Safety Association of Ontario)
Sponsoring Institution: University of Western Ontario
One-Year Funding: $60,000.00
Pilot Study of Manganese Accumulation in Ontario Welders
Excessive, prolonged exposure to manganese is known to be neurotoxic and has resulted in cases of occupational manganism, a Parkinson’s disease-like syndrome, in some jurisdictions outside Ontario. Exposure to manganese at low levels for a prolonged period of time can result in milder neurological symptoms, including memory deficit, loss of motor control, and reduction in the refinement of certain bodily motions. This project will use a novel diagnostic tool — in vivo neutron activation analysis — to test whether the bone manganese levels in humans can be reliably measured with the tool; whether the tool can distinguish between exposed and non-exposed subjects; and whether bone manganese levels do reflect differences in long-term occupational exposure.
Principal Investigator: Ana Pejovic-Milic (Ryerson University)
Co-Investigators: David Chettle, Ted Haines (McMaster University); John Oudyk, Michael Pysklywec (Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers); Harry Roels (Université catholique de Louvain)
Sponsoring Institution: Ryerson University
One-Year Funding: $59,831.00
Improvement in Diagnosis, Treatment, and Rehabilitation
Managing the ‘Tail of the Curve’: the Course, Predictive Factors, and Work-Related Outcomes of Injured Workers One Year after Attending the WSIB Specialty Clinics for Upper Limb Disorders
The complexity of the injuries of persons with longer term soft tissue disorders, together with their work situation, make them a challenge for WSIB specialty clinics. Although the clinics assess and use principles of best practice to make recommendations for these workers, the health care team in large part does not know what happens to these work-ers after they leave the clinic, or what the predictors of post-clinic courses are. This project will use a pro-spec-tive cohort study at two WSIB specialty clinics to find out about these outcomes.
Principal Investigator: Dorcas E. Beaton (St. Michael’s Hospital)
Co-Investigators: Joy MacDermid (McMaster University); Robin Richards (Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Sciences Centre); Renée Louise Franche, Pierre Coté, Sheilah Hogg-Johnson, Claire Bombardier (Institute for Work & Health); Sonia Pagura (Orthopaedic & Arthritic Institute)
Sponsoring Institution: St. Michael’s Hospital
Two-Year Funding: $287,332.92
Return to Work, Fair Compensation of Injured Workers, and Appropriate Assessment of Employers
An Ethnographic Study of Injured Workers’ Complex Claims Experiences
The objective of this study is to gain a better understanding of some systematic, process-related characteristics of costly claims by studying injured worker experiences of having a complex claim.
Principal Investigator: Ellen MacEachen (Institute for Work & Health)
Co-Investigators: Sue Ferrier, Donald C. Cole (Institute for Work & Health)
Sponsoring Institution: Institute for Work & Health
Two-Year Funding: $97,671.00
Return to Work and Best Practices in Unionized Workplaces: Joint Committees and Addressing Worker Health and Safety Needs
The purpose of this study is to understand the return to work process among unionized workplaces in Ontario. The objective is to document what is in vogue in this area and to explore the extent to which best practices in return to work are implemented with a view toward suggesting improvements where needed. The study will also look at the use of joint committees in facilitating return to work.
Principal Investigator: Paul L. Gallina (Bishop’s University)
Co-Investigators: Michel Lacerte (University of Western Ontario); Sara Slinn (Queen's University)
Sponsoring Institution: Bishop’s University
One-Year Funding: $28,500.00
Knowledge Transfer and Exchange
Development of Products to Transfer Line of Sight and Mobile Equipment Knowledge to Industry and Educational Institutions
This project aims to translate the findings of RAC-funded research on line of sight and visibility in underground mines into practical applications, such as a computer-based line-of-sight training game for operators of underground load-haul-dump vehicles, on-line educational modules, a line-of-sight and mobile equipment audit, and a users’ manual explaining how to evaluate line of sight. The tools developed will serve to educate current workers and increase the profile of workplace safety among younger workers.
Principal Investigator: Ann L. Pegoraro (Laurentian University)
Co-Investigators: Paul Dunn, Tammy Eger, Sylvain Grenier, Michel Larivière (Laurentian University); Shawn Allenby (Ottawa-Carleton District School Board); Yi Huang (Northern College); Rick Banting (Mines and Aggregates Safety and Health Association)
Sponsoring Institution: Laurentian University
One-Year Funding: $40,000.00
Development of a Mover's Pack: A Specialized Backpack for the Moving Industry
This project will design and evaluate a new Mover’s Pack for workers in the moving industry. Currently, movers use their hands to pick up, carry, and place loads when performing single-person lifts. Because the path between truck and building is often tortuous and objects are either heavy or awkward, there is an ever-present danger of slipping or wrenching one’s back. The project will integrate movers into the design process and will develop a prototype mover’s pack that will allow workers to carry the loads on their back.
Principal Investigator: Joan M. Stevenson (Queen’s University)
Co-Investigators: Bill Ostrom (Ostrom Outdoors Ltd); J. Timothy Bryant (Queen’s University)
Sponsoring Institution: Queen’s University
One-Year Funding: $40,000.00
Guidelines for the Development of Re-Entry Protocols in Seismically Active Mines
A common characteristic of deep mines in hard rock is induced seismicity. The unpredictability of seismic events makes management of their effects difficult. Following large seismic events, access to affected areas is normally restricted for a period of time. The objective of this project is to produce practical guidelines for the development of re-entry protocols into seismically active mines. The guidelines will be based on an analysis of currently used re-entry protocols together with their mine-specific details such as depth, rock type and properties, mining method, and site geology.
Principal Investigator: Stephen D. McKinnon (Queen’s University)
Sponsoring Institution: Queen’s University
One-Year Funding: $58,900.00
Identifying the Barriers and Facilitators to the Adoption of Ergonomic Innovations in the Construction Sector
This study will use a ‘diffusion of innovations’ framework to explore the adoption of ergonomic innovations in the construction sector. A small number of opinion leaders in the construction sector will be given an innovation — a hydraulically operated, aluminum drop-down ladder rack — and their use of the innovation in the field is expected to influence others to use it as well. The resulting expected diffusion of the innovation throughout the field will then be studied to uncover the barriers and facilitators of diffusion.
Principal Investigator: Philip L. Bigelow (Institute for Work & Health); Desre M. Kramer, Richard P. Wells (University of Waterloo); Enzo Garritano, Peter Vi (Construction Safety Association of Ontario)
Co-Investigators: Bill Ostrom (Ostrom Outdoors Ltd); J. Timothy Bryant (Queen’s University)
Sponsoring Institution: Institute for Work & Health
One-Year Funding: $59,777.00 | | |
