February 2025: Asbestos is classified as carcinogenic to humans by the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and identified as a specific cause of mesothelioma and cancers of the lung, larynx and ovary, primarily among occupationally exposed workers. Epidemiological evidence for occupational asbestos exposure as a cause of gastrointestinal cancers among workers has been suggestive, limited or inadequate. The objective of this work was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analyses of occupational asbestos exposure and esophageal, stomach and colorectal cancer risk. The meta-analyses support a causal link between occupational asbestos exposure and the risk of esophageal, stomach, and colorectal cancer. Read more in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
News
Presentations at Cascadia 2025
January 2025: PWHS MSc trainee Harman Sandhu will present on return-to-work outcomes for workers with work-related chronic pain and concurrent psychological injuries in BC, and Director of Privacy and Operations Suhail Marino will present on safety challenges specific to small construction firms at the Annual Cascadia Symposium on Environmental, Occupational, and Population Health, January 9-10, 2025 in Blaine, WA.
Cascadia Symposium on Environmental, Occupational, and Population Health
October 2024: The Annual Cascadia Symposium on Environmental, Occupational, and Population Health will be held January 9-10, 2025 at the Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine, WA. Registration and the call for abstracts are open.
New paper: Heat-related illness among workers in BC
August 2024: BC experienced an unprecedented summer with record-breaking high temperatures in 2021. This study characterized occupational heat-related illness (HRI) among BC workers by estimating by incidence rates and associations between heatwaves and HRI, with a focus on comparing risks during the 2021 summer and prior summers from 2001-2020. Read more in the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health.
New paper: The impact of regulatory workplace safety inspections on workers’ compensation claim rates
July 2024: This study examined whether regulatory workplace safety inspections in Alberta resulted in reductions in workers’ compensation claims rates for inspected firms relative to comparable non-inspected firms. Findings indicate that inspections generally do not result in greater reductions in firm-level claim rates in the construction, manufacturing, and transportation sectors. Read more in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.
We are hiring! Seeking a Research Associate
July 2024: PWHS is seeking a Research Associate to lead a program of research on the evaluation of policies and programs designed to prevent work-related injury and illness and improve related disability and return-to-work outcomes. The Research Associate will have a sound understanding of the linkages between public policy and work-related health and safety outcomes, and will use observational research study designs to evaluate policies and programs; conduct statistical analyses; author manuscripts, reports and briefs; present findings; and engage with decision-makers. Apply by August 9!
Latest Publications
Occupational asbestos exposure and gastrointestinal cancers: systematic review and meta-analyses
Journal article
Koehoorn M, McLeod CB, Fan J, Arrandale VH, Davies HW, Dement JM, Pahwa M, Peters CE, Stayner L, Straif K, Demers PA.
Occup Environ Med. 2025 Feb 10:oemed-2024-109707. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2024-109707. Online ahead of print.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Occupational Health and Safety Management System Certification Program on Firm Work Injury Rates in Alberta, Canada
Journal article
McLeod CB, Macpherson RA.
Am J Ind Med. 2024 Dec 17. doi: 10.1002/ajim.23690. Online ahead of print.
Occupational Asbestos Exposure and Gastrointestinal Cancers: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Report to The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) Ontario
Koehoorn M, Demers PA, McLeod CB, Arrandale V, Davies HW, Dement J, Fan J, Pahwa M, Peters CE, Stayner L, Straif K.
Vancouver, BC: Partnership for Work, Health and Safety; 2023.
Heat-related illness among workers in British Columbia, Canada: Extreme hot weather in 2021 compared to 2001-2020
Journal article
Guo X, Weinberger KR, Tamburic L, Peters CE, McLeod CB.
Scand J Work Environ Health. 2024 Jul 31:4179. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.4179. Online ahead of print.
The impact of regulatory workplace safety inspections on workers’ compensation claim rates
Journal article
McLeod CB, Macpherson RA, He A, Amick BC, Koehoorn M, Tompa E.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2024 Jul 24. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23640
Work disability duration among mobile workers: does intra-provincial mobility matter as much as inter-provincial mobility?
Journal article
Macpherson RA, Tamburic L, Neis B McLeod CB.
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2024 Jan 19. DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003050.
What occupational health and safety management system components predict firm work injury rates in the BC construction industry?
Research brief. Full report available by request. Based on research presented in:
McLeod CB, Jones AM. British Columbia Construction Safety Alliance COR® Audit Tool: Predictive Validity Update. Final Report to WorkSafeBC and British Columbia Construction Safety Alliance. Vancouver, BC: Partnership for Work, Health and Safety, University of British Columbia; 2023.
