CIHR Project Grant Success: Substance Use, Work and Well-Being in Trades and Construction
July 2025: Chris McLeod, PWHS Director, and Lindsey Richardson, Associate Professor in the UBC Department of Sociology, are co-principal investigators on a successful CIHR project grant focused on reducing substance-use related harm among people working in construction and trades in BC. In the context of the ongoing, intractable challenges linked to drug use and drug-related harm, people working in construction and trades bear a disproportionate burden of this harm, and there is a lack of published, action-oriented research in this area. The work funded by this grant will fill critical research and knowledge mobilization gaps, working in close collaboration with workers, unions, people with lived and living experience of substance use, employers, and clinicians to make concrete progress towards reducing substance use-related harm and improving employment outcomes for people in the sector.
The funded research spans survey-based data collection among workers and union members to assess emergent issues around substance use, workplace policy and related harm, treatment barriers, and the impact of stigma; a process evaluation recruiting participants who have been referred to the medical monitoring system to identify ways to minimize occupational and health harm and prioritize stay at work and return-to-work supports; and the creation of administrative data cohort that links workers’ compensation claims, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social Development, and other data to follow workers’ wellness and employment trajectories. Knowledge mobilization efforts will be targeted to clinicians, workers, employers, and unions.
Lindsey Richardson holds the Canada Research Chair in Social Inclusion and Health Equity and is Associate Professor in the UBC Department of Sociology and Research Scientist at the BC Centre on Substance Use. Chris McLeod is Associate Professor in the UBC School of Population and Public Health and Director of the Partnership for Work, Health and Safety. The team of co-applicants includes researchers from the BC Centre on Substance Use and BC Centre for Disease Control, representatives from trade organizations, clinicians across provincial health authorities and workers with lived experience.
Presentations at CARWH 2025
June 2025: PWHS researchers will give five presentations at the Canadian Association for Research on Work and Health Conference, June 3-2, 2025 in Ottawa, ON.
Tuesday June 3
Dr. Katherine Lippel Memorial Lecture
Mieke Koehoorn
Plenary Session | 9:00 am
Mental health, ergonomics and pain: Results from a cross-sectional study of young construction workers
Chizitara Nkwopara
Concurrent Session A1 | 10:30 am
Investigating differences in return-to-work outcomes for workers with work-related chronic pain and concurrent psychological injuries in British Columbia
Harman Sandhu
Concurrent Session A3 | 11:30 am
Wednesday June 4
An updated analysis of the Certificate of Recognition (COR) program in British Columbia: Exploring differences in effectiveness for small and large firms
Robert Macpherson
Concurrent Session B1 | 8:45 am
Implementing a new occupational health and safety program: Insights from Ontario’s Health and Safety Excellence Program
Chris McLeod
Concurrent Session B1 | 8:45 am
New paper: Employment-related settlement services and paid employment for immigrants
May 2025: Immigrant workers are overly represented in high risk and precarious jobs that are not commensurate with their background, skills and experience. This study examined the association between use of government-funded employment-related (ER) settlement services and paid employment of immigrants arriving in Canada between 2015 and 2017. The cohort was restricted to immigrants with no paid employment in their year of landing to examine the direct impact of ER service on subsequent employment. Immigrants displayed a higher odds of paid employment the year following the ER service, compared to immigrants who did not access ER services. Read more in PLoS One.
Learn more about PWHS work on immigrant workers: Immigration status and work disability duration
New paper: Injury and return to work among maritime workers
March 2025: Seafaring, fishing, marine aquaculture, and longshore work tend to be hazardous occupations with high injury rates. They are associated with varying levels of seasonality, shift work, geographic mobility, and different types of remuneration, posing unique challenges when recovering from work-related injury and illness. This paper presents findings from a mixed methods research program designed to provide insight into injury, compensation and RTW experiences among BC maritime workers.
Key findings:
- Analysis of workers’ compensation data shows high rates of serious injuries, longer disability duration, and high rates of deemed RTW, particularly in fishing.
- Survey findings suggest a relatively low percentage of workers file claims for workers’ compensation to WorkSafeBC.
- Interview data highlight some of the challenges that may explain under-reporting, longer disability duration, and relatively poor RTW outcomes.
Read more in New Solutions: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy.
New paper: Occupational asbestos exposure and gastrointestinal cancers
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 pleural and peritoneal 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, including a critical exposure assessment approach.
Key findings:
- A total of 82 (esophageal), 153 (stomach), and 144 (colorectal) papers met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review.
- Elevated meta-relative risk (mRR) estimates were observed for any occupational asbestos exposure for esophageal (1.17 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.29)), stomach (1.14 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.23)), and colorectal cancer (1.16 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.24)).
- There was consistency of mRR estimates and higher mRRs in meta-analyses where there was increased confidence in the categorization of highly exposed workers, including among the highest exposed workers in exposure-response studies, among asbestos insulation workers, and among workers in cohorts with a twofold or greater risk of asbestos-related lung cancer.
- 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.
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.
Thursday January 9
Investigating differences in return-to-work outcomes for workers with work-related chronic pain and concurrent psychological injuries in British Columbia
Harman Sandhu
Lightning Session | 4:15-5:30 pm
Friday January 10
The challenge of safety for small construction firms in British Columbia
Suhail Marino
Occupational Health | 10:10-11:30 am
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.
The conference will feature three cross-institution, cross-disciplinary themes: Impacts of a Changing Climate on Worker Health, Impacts of a Changing Climate on Vulnerable Populations, and Climate Impacts on Infectious Disease. There will also be presentations from across the fields of environmental, occupational, and population health.
Call for Abstracts
We are now accepting abstracts for podium presentations, ignite talks, and posters on occupational, environmental, or population health topics. The abstract deadline has been extended to Tuesday, November 19, 11:59pm Pacific Time. Submit your information and a brief abstract (200 words maximum) via this form. The conference organizers welcome presentations and posters from research that is in-progress.
Registration is now open! Please visit the Cascadia 2025 conference webpage for more information.
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 incidence rates and associations between heatwaves and HRI, with a focus on comparing risks during the 2021 summer and prior summers from 2001-2020.
Key findings:
- Significant associations between heatwaves and occupational HRI were observed, and heatwaves had a greater impact on HRI risk among middle-aged workers and workers in trades, transport, and equipment operation.
- The heatwaves-HRI association was greater during the summer of 2021 than in prior summers, and was stronger among younger workers and female workers than in prior summers.
- Higher HRI incidence rates were observed among workers who were younger, male, and working in primary industry; trades, transport, and equipment operation; and processing, manufacturing, and utilities.
Understanding these differential impacts on worker groups by demographics and occupations is crucial for informing prevention strategies targeting at-risk workers in BC’s warming climate. Read more in the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health.
Learn more about our work evaluating health and safety programs: Heath-Related Illness
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.
Learn more about our work evaluating health and safety programs: Health and Safety Programs and Regulations
We are hiring! Seeking a Research Associate
July 2024: The School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) is seeking a Research Associate to support the Partnership for Work, Health and Safety (www.pwhs.ubc.ca) in the Faculty of Medicine at the Vancouver Campus of the University of British Columbia. This position will support a program of research on the evaluation of policies and programs designed to prevent work-related injury and illness as well as improving disability and return-to-work outcomes related to them. The position will be supervised by Dr. McLeod, Director of the Partnership for Work, Health and Safety (the Partnership).
Housed within the Faculty of Medicine, the School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) is an innovative unit structured around four divisions (Occupational and Environmental Health; Health Services and Policy; Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Public Health Practice; and Health in Populations) that provides multidisciplinary opportunities for researchers, learners and decision makers to develop creative evidence-based strategies to solve public health issues.
Operating within SPPH, the Partnership is an innovative research unit that combines rigorous work and health research with effective knowledge translation. The Partnership brings together policy-makers, researchers and data resources from national and international organizations to address current and emerging issues of work-related health in Canada. Our program of research is aimed at improving our understanding of the causes and consequences of injuries and illness, identifying high-risk industries and occupations, and investigating the impact of policies and procedures on worker health. Our collaboration, based on best practices of knowledge transfer, enables researchers and decision-makers to work together to identify relevant questions, understand data, and produce useful information to effectively inform policy and practice. The Partnership is founded on years of research experience and expertise working with workers’ compensation data from across Canada. It is an excellent environment for an early career scientist to contribute to a program of research on work and health, and workers’ compensation.
The primary activities of the Research Associate include:
- Leading a program of research that uses observational research study designs to evaluate policies and programs designed to prevent work-related injury and illness and improve related disability and return-to-work outcomes.
- Conducting analyses using appropriate statistical methods and programs for observational research studies.
- Authoring/co-authoring manuscripts for peer-review publication.
- Drafting, editing, and reviewing technical reports and research briefs.
- Leading and supporting colleagues in preparing grant applications.
- Assisting with the development of workers’ compensation data for research purposes.
- Presenting research findings at conferences and workshops with academic and non-academic audiences and engaging with decision-makers for translation of research evidence in to practice.
- Supervising analysts, research assistants, students and/or junior graduate students.
- Participating in team meetings and contributing to PWHS academic and research activities.
Qualified candidates will have a PhD in a relevant discipline such as population and public health, occupational health/epidemiology, or any health science field or social sciences (i.e., economics, sociology, political science, geography) with a focus on work health and/or labour market outcomes; experience working in occupational health research projects (preferred); and a background in applying statistical and observational research methods to large linked administrative datasets. Ideally candidates will have at least two years of experience in policy research and three years of experience managing multiple research projects of various scopes and sizes. Experience in economic evaluation or mixed methods research is required. The following skills are required:
- Advanced understanding of, and proven experience using, advanced statistical analysis methods, as well as proficiency with related software (Stata, SAS, R).
- Demonstrated experience using observational research study designs in the evaluation of occupational health and safety management systems and policy evaluation.
- Demonstrated experience using large administrative health data/health services records for research purposes.
- Experience with writing scientific manuscripts in the field of public and work health, health policy and health service research or related social science journals.
- Sound theoretical and practical understanding of the linkages between public policy including but not limited to workers’ compensation and work-related health outcomes.
- Demonstrated econometric/statistical analytical skills including training in observational and quasi- experimental, research methodology.
- Experience interacting with policy stakeholders or funders, presenting and/or discussing research findings.
- Excellent communication skills, including strong writing, research and interpersonal skills.
- Organizational skills including the ability to multi-task, while being accurate and keeping attention to detail.
The Research Associate will work independently, with regular updates on progress and challenges. The Research Associate must exercise judgment on the day-to-day progress of research projects. The individual must perform their duties and interact tactfully with co-workers, researchers and study participants. A high level of confidentiality is essential. Structured decision making and an ability to work independently are critical.
Errors made could influence the ability of the research team to meet critical deadlines, as well as compromise the results of research projects, and therefore impact the credibility of the Principal Investigator(s). Poor decisions may be damaging to the reputation of the Principal Investigator(s), the School, and the University and could lead to incorrect or inappropriate policy recommendations being made.
This position will be responsible for access, collection, use and disclosure of personal information in accordance with the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (RSBC 1996) and other UBC privacy and security policies. This position requires employees to work under strict confidentiality requirements; internal procedures and policies to protect personal information must be followed and adherence to these requirements will be regularly reviewed by the employer.
The anticipated start date for this position is January 1, 2025. Please apply through the UBC Faculty Careers website. Applications should be directed to, Partnership Operation’s Director, Suhail Marino, and should include a resume, cover letter and the names and contact information of a minimum two supervisory references.
As one of the world’s leading universities, the University of British Columbia creates an exceptional learning environment that fosters global citizenship, advances a civil and sustainable society, and supports outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada and the world.
Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.
Are you a young construction worker?
May 2024: The Young Construction Workers Study is looking for young workers in the British Columbia (BC) construction industry to complete a confidential online survey about their current job or trade, working conditions that could contribute to musculoskeletal symptoms, and how these affect their well-being. Individuals who consent will be entered into a draw to win one of fourteen $100 Amazon gift cards as a thank you for participating in this study.
We are recruiting participants who:
- Are between the ages of 16 and 30 years
- Are currently employed in the construction industry in BC, and have been for at least one month at the time of completing the survey
- Have never been diagnosed with any type of work-related musculoskeletal injury by a medical doctor, physician or healthcare provider.
If you are interested in sharing your experiences, you can access the survey here. If you would like to learn more about the project, please contact Chizitara Nkwopara at ycws.research@ubc.ca or 604-822-1228.
If you need mental health support, find resources here. Learn more about the study: Working conditions and mental health of young construction workers.
Study Principal Investigators: Dr. Chris McLeod, PWHS.
Are you a restaurant, cafe, or bar worker?
May 2024: The FABS study is looking for food and beverage sector workers who have experienced bullying, harassment, and/or violence at work in British Columbia (BC) to complete a confidential survey about these experiences. Share your story! We offer $25 for participation.
In collaboration with the Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, and the Department of History and Sociology at UBC Okanagan, we are looking at the impact of COVID-19 public health policies on the health and safety of food service workers. We seek to understand how public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic created and/or exacerbated bullying, harassment, and violence against workers, but workers who did not work during the time of COVID-19 restrictions are also eligible to participate.
Findings from this research will help us to develop guidelines to prevent harassment, bullying, and violence in food and beverage workplaces.
We are looking to recruit participants who:
- are 16 years of age or older
- are currently employed at any type of restaurant or bar in BC, including quick service (fast food, cafe) restaurants, and have been employed for at least one month
- have experienced any kind of bullying, harassment, or violence while working.
We know that women (cis and trans), gender diverse, 2SLGBQ+ people, BIPOC and im/migrant people are disproportionately negatively impacted as workers in the food and beverage service sector. Thus, we particularly welcome participants from these communities.
If you are interested in sharing your experiences, complete the survey here.
If you would like to learn more about the project, please contact: fabs.study@ubc.ca or Suhail Marino at suhail.marino@ubc.ca or 604-822-0200.
Study Co-Principal Investigators: Dr. Chris McLeod, PWHS & Dr. Kathleen Deering, Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity.
Presentations at the 34th International Congress on Occupational Health (ICOH)
April 2024: PWHS Director Chris McLeod is presenting on bullying and harassment among restaurant workers and telework and mental health during the covid pandemic in Marrakesh, Morocco, at the 34th International Congress on Occupational Health (ICOH), April 28 to May 3.
Learn more about our work on bullying and harassment among restaurant workers.
Learn more about our work on e-working conditions, mental health, and future work arrangements.
New paper: Does intra-provincial mobility matter as much as inter-provincial mobility?
January 2024: This paper uses residential and employer location from workers’ compensation data to identify non-mobile workers (working and living in the same region of BC), intra-provincially mobile workers (working and living in different regions of BC) and inter-provincially mobile workers (working in BC and living outside BC) to estimate differences in work disability duration. The findings suggest that work disability duration was longest for inter-provincially mobile workers, even after matching workers on similar characteristics. Differences were attenuated in some industries (e.g., natural resources and mining), possibly due to more familiarity with mobile workers, and/or greater ability to accommodate workers. Read more in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Presentations at Cascadia 2024
January 2024: PWHS PhD student Xiaocong Guo will present on heat-related illness and injury in BC in 2021 compared to 2001-2020; Research Associate Robert Macpherson will present on work injury among fisheries, aquaculture, maritime and land transportation workers, and Director of Privacy and Operations Suhail Marino will present posters evaluating OHS management systems at the Annual Cascadia Symposium on Environmental, Occupational, and Population Health, January 11-12, 2024 in Blaine, WA.
Thursday January 11
What occupational health and safety management system components predict firm work injury rates in the British Columbia construction industry?
Suhail Marino
Poster Session | 5:45-7:00 pm
Towards safer workplaces: Learning from experiences in the Health and Safety Excellence program in Ontario, Canada
Suhail Marino
Poster Session | 5:45-7:00 pm
Friday January 12
Work injury and disability among fisheries, aquaculture, maritime and land transportation workers in British Columbia, Canada
Robert Macpherson
Workplace Health | 8:45-9:00 am
Heat related illness among workers in British Columbia: Extreme hot weather in 2021 compared to 2001–2020
Xiaocong Guo
Student Award Winner Presentations | 11:30 am – 12:15 pm
Registration, lodging and call for abstracts for Cascadia 2024: Occupational, Environmental & Population Health Conference
Borders, Intersections and Boundaries: Issues at the Nexus of Environment, Occupation and Population Health
Annual Cascadia Symposium on Environmental, Occupational, and Population Health
January 11-12, 2024
Semiahmoo Resort, Blaine, WA
Call for Abstracts
The conference organizers are now accepting abstracts. The conference theme will focus on topics that bridge occupation, environment and population health and that present opportunities for collective research and action by the participating universities throughout the Cascadia region. Keynote presentations will explore the impact of wildfires, the ongoing opioid public health crisis, and the persistence of related health disparities and inequities.
For podium presentations, ignite talks and posters, we are accepting abstracts that relate to any occupational, environmental, or population health topics. If you are interested in presenting at the conference, please submit your contact information and a brief abstract (200 words maximum). We welcome presentations and posters from research that is in progress. The deadline for submission is November 15th, 2023.
Registration
For those affiliated with an American institution, the fee is $375 USD; for those affiliated with a Canadian institution the fee is $415 CDN. The registration fee includes conference meals.
Lodging
We encourage you to book your hotel accommodation under the conference block at the Semiahmoo Resort soon, as there are limited rooms reserved at a discounted rate for our delegates. The room rate at Semiahmoo Resort is $107 (plus taxes) USD. The booking deadline for the conference room rate is December 11th.
Semiahmoo Resort
9565 Semiahmoo Parkway
Blaine, WA 98230 USA
Tel: 855-917-3767
Email reservations: guestservices@semiahmoo.com
Group booking code: 2401UBCUWOA
Website: https://www.semiahmoo.com/about.php
If booking online, note the code above is a group code, rather than a promo code. Click here to book January 11 only. Click here to book January 10 and 11.
Scientific Planning Committee
University of British Columbia: Michael Brauer; Melanie Gorman Ng; Chris McLeod; Suhail Marino
Simon Fraser University: Chris Buse
University of Washington: Chris Simpson
Oregon State University: Perry Hystad
Boise State University: Cynthia Curl
Were you a restaurant or bar worker during COVID-19?
October 2023: The FABS study is interviewing employees who were bullied, harassed, and/or experienced violence in the workplace. Share your story! We are specifically seeking participants from Spanish, Filipino, Punjabi, Farsi, Vietnamese, and Chinese-speaking communities. Interviews can be conducted in any of those languages, or in English if preferred. We offer $75 for participation.
In collaboration with the Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, and the Department of History and Sociology at UBC Okanagan are looking for food and beverage sector workers to participate in our research study looking at the impact of COVID-19 public health policies on the health and safety of restaurant workers. We seek to understand how public health restrictions created and/or exacerbated bullying, harassment, and violence against workers.
We are conducting confidential, 60-minute interviews with people who worked in restaurants or bars in BC during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic and who experienced any kind of bullying, harassment, or violence. Individuals will receive a $75 honorarium as a thank you for their time. Findings from this research will help us to develop guidelines to prevent harassment, bullying, and violence in food and beverage workplaces.
We are looking to recruit participants who:
- are 18 years of age or older
- were employed at any type of restaurant or bar, including fast food restaurants, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic (between March 2020 and April 2022)
- experienced any kind of bullying, harassment, or violence while working.
- are part of Spanish, Filipino, Punjabi, Farsi, Vietnamese, or Chinese-speaking communities.
We know that women (cis and trans), gender diverse, 2SLGBQ+ people, BIPOC and im/migrant people are disproportionately negatively impacted as workers in the food and beverage service sector. Thus, we particularly welcome interviewing people from these communities.
If you are interested in sharing your experiences, or you would like to learn more about the project, please contact: fabs.study@ubc.ca or Suhail Marino at suhail.marino@ubc.ca or 604-822-0200.
Study Co-Principal Investigators: Dr. Chris McLeod, PWHS & Dr. Kathleen Deering, Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity.
Call for proposals: Workers’ Health and Return to Work in a Changing World of Work
September 2023: The Policy and Practice in Return to Work after Work Injury (PPRTW) Research Group at the University of Ottawa is presenting a conference titled Workers’ Health and Return to Work in a Changing World of Work in person at the University of Ottawa June 9 to 11, 2024.
The conference will also include a tribute to the late professor Katherine Lippel, an international leader in labour and health policy, and founder of the research group holding the conference.
Researchers, students, injured or ill workers, community members, advocates and policy-makers are invited to submit presentation proposals.
Details: https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-law/civil-law/occupational-health-safety-law/pprat/conference
Presentation at the Annual Conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology
September 2023: PWHS PhD student Xiaocong (Maggie) Guo is presenting on the burden of occupational heat-related illness in BC and the impact of heatwaves on Sept 19 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, at the Annual Conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology.
Save the date: Cascadia 2024
Cascadia Occupational, Environmental & Population Health 2024 Conference
January 11 & 12, 2024
Semiahmoo Resort, Washington
Abstract submission and registration details to follow shortly!
Co-sponsored by the UBC School of Population and Public Health, SFU Faculty of Health Sciences, Oregon State University, and UW School of Public Health
Cameron Mustard award applications now being accepted
The Institute for Work & Health is now accepting applications for its inaugural Cameron Mustard Early Career Accelerator Award.
The award was established in 2022 to support and accelerate the research program of an early career researcher in the area of work and health. The award can be used to support any activities that help promote, develop and/or accelerate the applicant’s research career. These activities could include data collection costs, data access fees for secondary data analyses, conference travel, or open access publications. This award is named after Dr. Cameron Mustard, who was president and senior scientist at the Institute for Work & Health for 20 years between 2002 and 2022. The award is valued at $20,000.
The application deadline is Friday September 29, 2023.
For more information about the award, eligibility and how to apply, visit the IWH website.
Enquiries should be directed to Lyudmila Mansurova: lmansurova@iwh.on.ca.
Continuation of telework in the post-pandemic era: Healthcare employees’ preference and determinants
Day of Mourning
April 28, 2023: Today, Canada is observing the National Day of Mourning to remember and honour those who have lost their lives or been injured due to workplace tragedies. Over the years, Canadians have observed this day in various ways, including lighting candles, laying wreaths, wearing commemorative pins, ribbons, or black armbands, and pausing for a moment of silence. As we pause to honour these lives lost and the families who have been affected, let us also recommit ourselves to improving health and safety in the workplace. No one should have to lose their life or health while simply trying to earn a living.
It is crucial to remember that workplace tragedies affect more than just the statistics. According to the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC), in 2021, there were 1,081 workplace fatalities recorded in Canada, with 18 young workers aged 15-24 among them. These numbers do not account for the loved ones, family members, friends, and co-workers who are directly affected and left behind. Let us take this day to strengthen our resolve in establishing safe and healthy conditions in the workplace and prevent further injuries, illnesses, and deaths. As much as this is a day to remember those who have lost their lives, it is also a call to protect people around us and make work a place where people are safe and can thrive.
Watch a video message from Dr. Chris McLeod, Co-Director of PWHS.
Find a listing of Day of Mourning events and livestreams here.
Syme Research Training Awards Applications Now Being Accepted
The Institute for Work & Health (IWH) is now accepting applications for its 12-month S. Leonard Syme Research Training Awards in Work and Health.
The awards are for young researchers at the master’s or doctoral level intending to study work and health. Preference is given to candidates whose research interests closely align with IWH’s current research and topic areas. IWH is particularly interested in candidates whose research addresses the prevention of work-related injury and illness, and the prevention and management of disability at work in Ontario. In the spirit of Dr. Syme’s own contributions to research mentorship, candidates from any disciplinary background are eligible for training awards. A maximum of three training awards may be offered. Awards are based on the merit of the research proposed.
The deadline for applications is May 5, 2023.
For more information about the awards and how to apply, please visit: https://www.iwh.on.ca/opportunities/syme-award.
Enquiries should be directed to Lyudmila Mansurova: lmansurova@iwh.on.ca.
Mustard Postdoctoral Research Award in Work and Health
January 2023: The Institute for Work & Health is now accepting applications for its Mustard Postdoctoral Research Award in Work and Health.
The award supports the development of outstanding new researchers in the field of work and health congruent with the mission of the Institute. It aims specifically to build capacity for innovative multidisciplinary research concerning the relationships between work environments and worker health. As such, the award is open to a range of academic disciplines including social, behavioural and organizational sciences, as well as clinical and population health sciences. Submissions are encouraged from applicants with an interest in either of the Institute’s two overarching priorities: Work as a Determinant of Health and Health as a Determinant of Work. The award is valued at $55,000 per year and may be awarded for up to two years (i.e., one year with the possibility of a one-year renewal). Only one award will be awarded.
The award is named in honour of Dr. J. Fraser Mustard, who was the founding Board Chair of the Institute for Work & Health.
The application deadline is Friday March 24, 2023.
For more information about the award, eligibility and how to apply, visit www.iwh.on.ca/opportunities/mustard-award.
Enquiries should be directed to Lyudmila Mansurova: lmansurova@iwh.on.ca.
Presentations at Cascadia 2023
January 2023: PWHS postdoctoral fellow Sonja Senthanar and former PWHS PhD student Anita Minh, now a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Washington, will address precarious work in a plenary session; PhD student Xiaocong Guo will present a poster on heat-related illness and injury; and research associate Robert Macpherson will give a presentation on regional labour market conditions at the Annual Cascadia Symposium on Environmental, Occupational, and Population Health, January 5-6, 2023 in Blaine, WA.
Thursday, January 5
Current and future opportunities in precarious work and work organization
Sonja Senthanar and Anita Minh
Joint session on cross cutting themes | 1:15-1:45 pm
Heat-related illness and injury: Examining characteristics that place workers at greater risk in British Columbia
Xiaocong Guo
Poster session | 6:00-7:00 pm
Friday January 6
Do regional labour market conditions matter for work disability duration? A multilevel analysis of workers’ compensation claims in five Canadian provinces
Robert Macpherson
Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology | 8:30-9:50 am
We are hiring! Seeking a research associate
December 2022: PWHS is seeking a research associate to support a program of research on the evaluation of workers’ compensation policies and programs, with a particular focus on conducting a systematic review and meta-analyses of the scientific evidence of the relationship between occupational exposure to asbestos and the risk of lung cancers, to inform compensation policy.
Housed within the Faculty of Medicine, the School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) is an innovative unit structured around four divisions (Occupational and Environmental Health; Health Services and Policy; Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Public Health Practice; and Health in Populations) that provides multidisciplinary opportunities for researchers, learners and decision makers to develop creative evidence-based strategies to solve public health issues. Operating within SPPH, PWHS, co-led by Drs Mieke Koehoorn and Chris McLeod, brings together researchers, policymakers, and data resources from SPPH, WorkSafeBC (the Workers’ Compensation Board of BC), and external partners to address current and emerging issues of work-related health and workers’ compensation in innovative ways, using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
The primary activities of the research associate include:
- Contribute to the program of research with a focus on the evaluation of the effects of workers’ compensation polices, programs and practices on key work and health indicators.
- Lead evidence synthesis methodologies, including:
- Organize and structure evidence synthesis protocols according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, in consultation with the project advisors, lead and collaborators;
- Develop evidence search strategies and inclusion/exclusion criteria for evidence synthesis projects;
- Conduct evidence search strategies and screen abstracts and full-text articles relative to the inclusion/exclusion criteria to assess their suitability for an evidence synthesis to respond to the research question(s);
- Use data extraction software such as Covidence, and validate data abstraction and assess the quality of studies;
- Work with investigative teams and collaborators to develop occupational exposure metrics across studies for meta-analyses, including for asbestos exposures;
- Conduct meta-analyses to respond to the research questions on relationships between occupational exposures and cancers, specifically occupational asbestos exposure and lung cancer;
- Lead and organize internal research team meetings including meeting with funder and other stakeholders (agendas with decisions/action items);
- Develop and maintain comprehensive study/methodological documentation;
- Draft, edit and review articles, briefing notes, presentations and technical reports.
- Lead and support colleagues in preparing grant submissions of new evidence synthesis research grant application(s).
- Co-author and author publications for peer-review journals.
- Conduct analyses using a variety of statistical methods and statistical programs.
- Present research findings at academic conferences and workshops.
- Support the implementation of a strategy for dissemination of results and knowledge transfer activities.
- Supervise analysts, research assistants, and/or graduate trainees.
- Participate in team meetings.
- Contribute to PWHS academic activities and to the SPPH academic community.
Qualifications
Education
- PhD or equivalent degree in epidemiology/biostatistics, occupational health/hygiene, or related health sciences.
Experience
- Minimum of five years of experience using evidence synthesis methodologies and research software/tools (e.g., Covindence and STATA software) is required (and as demonstrated by authorship on systematic review publications, conference presentations, or letter of support from previous supervisors).
- Advanced understanding of, and proven experience using, advanced statistical and empirical analysis methods, as well as proficiency with related software (SAS, Stata, R).
- Research experience related to occupational health/hygiene or work and health, and in particular occupational exposure assessment.
- Experience leading evidence syntheses (systematic reviews, meta-analyses, scoping reviews, meta-analyses).
- Experience collaborating as part of a multi-disciplinary and international research team, and attention to detail for methodological documentation.
- Experience writing for publication in academic journals.
Skills
- Ability to write in explanatory and procedural styles for multiple audiences.
- Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities.
- Ability to exercise initiative, judgment, and discretion.
- Ability to analyze and effectively resolve issues.
- Interpersonal skills including the ability to work effectively independently and in a team.
- Communication skills, including strong technical writing and research skills.
The position will be principally supervised by Dr. Mieke Koehoorn with additional supervision by Dr. Chris McLeod.
This position requires a considerable degree of research experience, creativity, industriousness, and independence to complete the research deliverables within the 12 month time period with an international team of investigators and collaborators. The Research Associate will work independently, with regular updates on progress and challenges. The Research Associate must exercise judgment on the day-to-day progress of research projects. A high level of confidentiality is essential. Structured decision making and an ability to work independently are critical.
Errors made could influence the ability of the research team to meet critical deadlines, as well as compromise the results of research projects, and therefore impact the credibility of the Principal Investigator. Poor decisions may be damaging to the reputation of the Principal Investigator, the School, and the University and could lead to incorrect or inappropriate policy recommendations being made.
This position may be responsible for access, collection, use and disclosure of personal information in accordance with the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (RSBC 1996) and other UBC privacy and security policies. This position requires employees to work under strict confidentiality requirements; internal procedures and policies to protect personal information must be followed and adherence to these requirements will be regularly reviewed by the employer.
To apply
UBC hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.
Please apply by January 2, 2023 via the UBC Faculty Careers website. Applications should be directed to PWHS Operations Director Suhail Marino, and should include a resume, cover letter and the names and contact information of a minimum of two supervisory references. The anticipated start date for this position is February 15, 2023.
Magic and Lethal: The Asbestos Memorial
September 2022: The BC Heritage Labour Centre is dedicating a memorial to honour the victims of asbestos exposure on September 22 at 10 am at the Vancouver Convention Centre West. The memorial is being installed with the support of the Province of BC, PavCo, and WorkSafeBC.
Magic and Lethal: The Asbestos Memorial
Honouring the Victims of Asbestos Exposure
Join for the official dedication: Register online or RSVP by email.
September 22, 2022 | 10:00 am
Vancouver Convention Centre West
1055 Canada Place
Indoor reception to follow
The Wind Wheel Mobile by Vancouver artist Doug R Taylor is a dynamic kinetic sculpture, driven only by the wind. Rich in symbolism, it is destined to become one of Vancouver’s most iconic images. The memorial will honour the thousands who have died, and continue to die from asbestos exposure. It will spark public awareness of the ongoing danger that surrounds us.
The memorial is being installed on the north-west corner of the waterfront path of the Vancouver Convention Centre. This sits at the foot of the “Line of Work” installation that profiles workers killed and injured on the job. It faces Burrard Inlet, where for decades asbestos was loaded into ships for export.
Learn more about asbestos exposure and the burden of related occupational cancers in BC: Asbestos in BC Fact Sheet.
We are hiring! Seeking a postdoctoral research fellow
September 2022: PWHS is seeking a postdoctoral fellow to lead work on evidence syntheses (including systematic reviews, meta-analyses, scoping reviews, and briefing notes) in the area of occupational epidemiology and work and health research to inform policies and practices. One key project, for example, is a synthesis of the scientific evidence on the relationship between occupational exposure to asbestos and the risk of lung cancers to inform compensation policy.
Housed within the Faculty of Medicine, the School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) is an innovative unit structured around four divisions (Occupational and Environmental Health; Health Services and Policy; Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Public Health Practice; and Health in Populations) that provides multidisciplinary opportunities for researchers, learners and decision makers to develop creative evidence-based strategies to solve public health issues. Operating within SPPH, PWHS, co-led by Drs Mieke Koehoorn and Chris McLeod, brings together researchers, policymakers, and data resources from SPPH, WorkSafeBC (the Workers’ Compensation Board of BC), and external partners to address current and emerging issues of work-related health and workers’ compensation in innovative ways, using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
The primary activities of the postdoctoral fellow include:
- Lead evidence synthesis methodologies, including:
- Organize and structure evidence synthesis protocols according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, in consultation with the project advisors, lead and collaborators;
- Develop evidence search strategies and inclusion/exclusion criteria for evidence synthesis projects;
- Conduct evidence search strategies and screen abstracts and full-text articles relative to the inclusion/exclusion criteria to assess their suitability for an evidence synthesis to respond to the research question(s);
- Use data extraction software such as Covidence, and validate data abstraction and assess the quality of studies;
- Work with investigative teams and collaborators to develop occupational exposure metrics across studies for meta-analyses, including for asbestos exposures;
- Conduct meta-analyses to respond to the research questions on relationships between occupational exposures and cancers, specifically occupational asbestos exposure and lung cancer;
- Lead and organize internal research team meetings including meeting with funder and other stakeholders (agendas with decisions/action items);
- Plan and write briefing notes for the investigators, interim reports for the funder, slide presentations for policy makers;
- Assist in writing a final report;
- Develop and maintain comprehensive study/methodological documentation;
- Co-author and author publications for peer-review journals.
- Coordinate and assist with the preparation of new evidence synthesis research grant application(s).
- Participate in knowledge translation (KT) activities.
- Participate in team meetings.
- Contribute to PWHS academic activities and to the SPPH academic community.
Troubleshoot and problem solve for projects, as necessary.
Qualifications
Education
- PhD or equivalent degree in epidemiology, occupational hygiene, or related health sciences preferred.
Experience
- Minimum of four years of experience using evidence synthesis methodologies and research software/tools (e.g., Covindence and STATA software) is required (and as demonstrated by authorship on systematic review publications, conference presentations, or letter of support from previous supervisors).
- Research experience related to occupational hygiene, and in particular occupational exposure assessment, is preferred.
- Experience collaborating as part of a multi-disciplinary and international research team, and attention to detail for methodological documentation, are assets.
- Experience writing for publication in academic journals is preferred.
Skills
- Ability to write in explanatory and procedural styles for multiple audiences.
- Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities.
- Ability to exercise initiative, judgment, and discretion.
- Ability to analyze and effectively resolve issues.
- Interpersonal skills including the ability to work effectively independently and in a team.
The position reports to Dr. Mieke Koehoorn. Work will be reviewed for soundness of approach, analysis, and manuscript preparation. The incumbent may receive specific guidance for the research methods from the project investigators and collaborators.
This position requires a considerable degree of research experience, creativity, industriousness, and independence to complete the research deliverables within the 16 month time period with an international team of investigators and collaborators.
The postdoctoral fellow will work under strict confidentiality because of the nature of the data used in PWHS projects. Core research activities are dependent on principles of security and privacy, and on the integrity of the research enterprise. Any privacy breach or errors in judgment could lead to serious consequences for regulations and policies governing the health and safety and compensation of workers, and affect the reputation of the project lead, the PWHS, SPPH, and other partners. Care must be exercised in designing and performing tasks to avoid inappropriate assumptions.
This position will be responsible for access, collection, use and disclosure of personal information in accordance with the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (RSBC 1996) and other UBC privacy and security policies. This position requires employees to work under strict confidentiality requirements; internal procedures and policies to protect personal information must be followed and adherence to these requirements will be regularly reviewed by the employer.
To apply
UBC hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We especially welcome applications from visible minority group members, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
Please apply by October 12, 2022 via the UBC Faculty Careers website. This is a 1.5 year term appointment with a possibility of an extension to a full second year. Please note that while the posting end date is October 13, applications will only be accepted until 11:59 pm PST on October 12.
Presentations at CARWH 2022
September 2022: PWHS co-lead Mieke Koehoorn, research associate Robert Macpherson, postdoctoral fellow Sonja Senthanar, and researcher Andrea Jones are giving presentations on health and employment outcomes for immigrant workers, healthcare workers’ preference to continue remote work after the pandemic, claim rates for in- vs out-of-province workers, and the effect of COR on workplace safety at the Canadian Association for Research in Work and Health (CARWH) bi-annual conference, The Changing World of Work, Health and Research, on September 15-16, 2022.
Thursday, September 15
Longer-term cardiovascular-related outcomes following work-related injury/disability by immigration contexts
Mieke Koehoorn
Breakout Session 5: Marginalised & visible minority workers 2 | 2:15-3:15 pm EDT
Impact of employment-related settlement services on employment outcomes for immigrants in Canada
Sonja Senthanar
Breakout Session 5: Marginalised & visible minority workers 2 | 2:15-3:15 pm EDT
Friday, September 16
Determinants of healthcare employees’ preference to continue teleworking after the COVID-19 pandemic
Andrea Jones
Breakout Session 9: Human & technology interaction for work & health 1 | 12:00-1:00 pm EDT
Differences in workers’ compensation claim rates for within-province and out-of-province workers in British Columbia, Canada, 2010-2017
Robert Macpherson
Breakout Session 10: Workplace injury & disability | 2:15-3:15 pm EDT
Does the Certificate of Recognition (COR) program lead to safer workplaces in Ontario?
Robert Macpherson
Breakout Session 12: Workplace policy & systems | 2:15-3:15 pm EDT
Save the date! Cascadia Symposium on Environmental, Occupational, and Public Health
September 2022: The annual Cascadia Symposium on Environmental, Occupational, and Public Health Conference will re-launch January 5-6, 2023 at the Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine, WA. Please save the date and stay tuned for more information!
The effect of COR Certification in Ontario
July 2022: Listen to Chris McLeod describe the methodology we used in assessing how the COR™ program affected lost-time and high-impact injury rates in Ontario in the IHSA Safety Podcast. In this discussion, Paul Casey of Ontario’s Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA) also shares what prompted IHSA to engage with PWHS.
A research brief details the impact of COR in Ontario. All our COR results are here: Certificate of Recognition (COR) audit program.
Recruiting public transport workers for a study to better understand the impact of the pandemic on young workers
June 2022: PWHS and the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) are looking for public transport workers ages 35 and under to participate in our research project to better understand the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on young workers and their workplace mental health.
We would like to invite you to participate in a confidential 45-60 min interview to share your experiences on the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on your working conditions, your mental health, and what the employer and transport unions responses have been.
This information will be used to help inform our research and provide recommendations to unions and workplaces on potential actions they can take to protect young workers’ mental health and wellbeing.
We are looking to recruit participants who are:
- 35 and under
- Part of a union
- Work in any part of the public transport sector (maintenance, drivers, cleaners, ticket takers, etc,)
If you are interested in sharing your experiences, or you would like to learn more about the project, please contact: lcedillo@ohcow.on.ca or visit: Pandemic related stressors in young transport sector workers
Study Investigator: Dr. Chris McLeod, UBC School of Population and Public Health
Report on Workplace Fatality and Injury Rates in Canada
April 2022: Canadian workers compensation boards reported that 924 workers died due to work-related causes in 2020. This report provides a jurisdictional comparison of work-related injury and fatality rates in Canada between 2016 and 2020 using data from the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC). A comparison of fatality rates is important for identifying trends over time both within and between provinces and territories. Job-related fatalities are classified as injury (e.g., death due to job-related electrocution) or occupational disease related (e.g., death from mesothelioma due to work-related exposure to asbestos). This report also provides information on accepted WCB claims for work-related COVID-19 injuries and fatalities for 2020 and 2021. Download the report.
The effect of COVID-19 policies on violence, bullying and harassment in the BC service sector
April 2022: A multidisciplinary team of researchers from PWHS and the Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity (CGSHE) received funding from CIHR for a mixed-methods study that will critically assess the effect of COVID-19 policies on violence, bullying and harassment in the food and beverage service sector in BC.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated many work-related inequities, with essential workers having to work at considerable risk in environments where there is COVID-19 exposure. In BC, the restaurant and hospitality sectors remained open throughout most of the pandemic with reduced hours, masking and restricted capacity. In August 2021, by order of the Provincial Health Officer, patrons of licensed restaurants, pubs and other establishments were required to show proof of vaccination with a first dose by September 13 and a second by October 24. Businesses were required to check for vaccination status and deny services to those not meeting this requirement. Women, racialized persons and youth are overrepresented in the accommodation and food service sector and in lower paying positions and are at high risk of harassment and violence at work. Workers are often precariously employed and are at a power disadvantage with employers and customers. Growing evidence suggests that COVID-19 working conditions, including the requirement to enforce COVID-19 workplace safety protocols, puts these workers at a greater risk for harassment and violence as well consequent negative physical and mental health outcomes.
This project is a mixed-method study that has three aims:
- First, it will conduct key informant interviews in the restaurant and hospitality sector to understand the experience of violence and harassment working under COVID-19 restrictions.
- Second, a survey of restaurant and hospitality workers from the Metro Vancouver and Central Okanagan regions who have experienced violence or harassment will be conducted to understand the broader contexts and the determinants and outcomes of their experience.
- Third, facilitated work will be conducted with community-based organizations, employer and worker associations, and WorkSafeBC to develop recommendations and guidelines to prevent and mitigate harassment and violence in the workplace due to public health measures.
Seeking a Project Coordinator/Interviewer and a Qualitative Research Lead/Interviewer
April 2022: PWHS and the Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity (CGSHE) are seeking (1) a Project Coordinator/Interviewer and (2) a Qualitative Research Lead/Interviewer to conduct a mixed-methods study that will critically assess the effect of COVID-19 policies on violence, bullying, and harassment in the BC food and beverage service sector. Please note that these positions close on April 20.
Project Coordinator/Interviewer
PWHS and the Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity (CGSHE) are seeking a Project Coordinator/Interviewer to coordinate a mixed-methods study that will critically assess the effect of COVID-19 policies on violence, bullying, and harassment in the BC food and beverage service sector.
Job description
The Project Coordinator/Interviewer will work with a multidisciplinary, collaborative team of researchers, policy makers, and industry stakeholders on a mixed-methods study that will critically assess the effect of COVID-19 policies on violence, bullying, and harassment in the BC food and beverage service sector. The Project Coordinator/Interviewer will be responsible for the overall project coordination; administration, communication and execution of project plans; stakeholder engagement, project meetings, and other knowledge translation activities; recruitment of study participants; and communication and collaboration with community and study stakeholders and participants.
Specifically, the Project Coordinator/Interviewer will:
- Coordinate and implement project plans and timelines, track progress, and monitor and report on the status of activities and major issues/obstacles encountered.
- Participate in research team meetings to define and plan research participant recruitment strategies, protocols and goals.
- Create and submit research ethics board submissions and assist in the development of any other required data collection materials.
- Organize and chair internal research meetings and external progress meetings with project stakeholders.
- Communicate project status and contribute to positive working relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders, including community partners, members of industries/communities affected by the research, government officials, and policymakers.
- Oversee recruitment and informed consent, conduct interviews, and implement online survey.
- Ensure accurate and detailed research records and methodological documentation are maintained.
- Write reports and develop knowledge translation materials for a wide range of audiences, and design effective strategies for distribution of promotional materials.
- Identify and support resolution to problems or barriers for successful research project completion, in collaboration with the Principal Investigators.
Desired skills and experience
This position requires a considerable degree of research experience, creativity, industriousness, and independence to complete the research deliverables within the two-year study period with a multidisciplinary team of investigators and collaborators.
Education
- Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline required. Master’s degree in epidemiology, public health, social sciences, sociology, public policy or related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience, preferred.
Experience
- Experience or training in graduate-level quantitative, qualitative and/or mixed methods research.
- Related work experience in project coordination, research, or other relevant frontline work in the service sector.
- Community knowledge or direct experience with communities marginalized due to violence, bullying and harassment.
- Strong health equity and health and safety lens and knowledge and experience with gender diverse, racialized persons and youth populations; lived experience working in the food and beverage industry is an asset.
- Experience with conflict management and supervision of diverse staff.
Skills
- Excellent time management skills including the ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines.
- Ability to work collaboratively with other team members and ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to manage multiple competing priorities and projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment under deadlines.
- Demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to anti-oppression principles.
- Flexibility in hours and willingness to work across CGSHE/UBC offices and community to support outreach and recruitment.
- Ability to maintain researcher-participant confidentiality.
- Computer skills including experience in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- Ability to exercise initiative, judgment, discretion, and have strong interpersonal skills.
- Ability to analyze and effectively resolve issues.
- Class 5 Driver’s License an asset for use of CGSHE/UBC outreach van.
We are prioritizing BIPOC and LGBTQ/2S people, as well as other grounded expertise with a human rights and employment equity lens.
About our organizations
PWHS is dedicated to addressing current and emerging issues of work-related health in British Columbia. Our team is comprised of a diverse and multidisciplinary group of faculty, students, and staff, situated in the School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) in the Faculty of Medicine at UBC. Our research results inform the design of evidence-based policies and prevention programs to create safer and more secure workplaces, and help improve opportunities for recovery after injuries occur. CGSHE, hosted at Providence Health Care and affiliated with UBC and SFU, has a strategic mandate to advance gender and sexual health equity among under-serviced populations in BC, Canada, and globally through research, policy, and practice. The Project Coordinator/Interviewer will work in a team environment with statisticians, analysts, librarians, programmers, researchers, and faculty at SPPH and CGSHE as well as with a multidisciplinary team of investigators, industry stakeholders, and policy makers.
To apply
Please apply by April 20, 2022 via the UBC Staff Careers website. This is a two-year term appointment.
Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
Qualitative Research Lead/Interviewer
PWHS and the Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity (CGSHE) are seeking a Qualitative Research Lead/Interviewer to conduct a mixed-methods study that will critically assess the effect of COVID-19 policies on violence, bullying, and harassment in the BC food and beverage service sector.
Job description
The Qualitative Research Lead/Interviewer will work with a multidisciplinary, collaborative team of researchers, policy makers, and industry stakeholders on a mixed-methods study that will critically assess the effect of COVID-19 policies on violence, bullying, and harassment in the BC food and beverage service sector. The Qualitative Research Lead/Interviewer will be responsible for the development of data collection instruments; project meetings and roundtable discussions and other knowledge translation activities; recruitment of study participants for both in-person interviews and online surveys; and communication and collaboration with community and study stakeholders and participants.
Specifically, the Qualitative Research Lead/Interviewer will:
- Be responsible for the development and implementation of the qualitative interview guide, along with other data collection instruments and other recruitment related materials.
- Collaborate with the Project Coordinator in the development of research ethics board submissions.
- Participate in research team meetings to define and plan research participant recruitment strategies, protocols, and goals.
- Communicate project status and contribute to positive working relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders, including community partners, members of industries/communities affected by the research, government officials, and policy makers.
- Assist with recruitment and informed consent, conducting interviews, and implementing online survey.
- Ensure accurate and detailed research records are maintained.
- Liaise with study participants and staff.
- Develop and maintain comprehensive study and methodological documentation.
- Conduct analysis of qualitative data and interpret observations and findings.
- Write reports, collaborate on manuscripts and develop knowledge translation materials for a wide range of audiences, and design effective strategies for distribution of promotional materials.
- Identify and support resolution to problems or barriers for successful research project completion, in collaboration with the Principal Investigators.
Desired skills and experience
This position requires a considerable degree of research experience, creativity, industriousness, and independence to complete the research deliverables within the two-year study period with a multidisciplinary team of investigators and collaborators.
Education
- Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline required. Master’s degree in epidemiology, public health, social sciences, sociology, public policy or related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience, preferred.
Experience
- Experience or training in graduate-level qualitative and/or mixed methods research.
- Recent, related work experience in qualitative research.
- Experience using Nvivo or other qualitative analytical software.
- Community knowledge or direct experience with communities marginalized due to violence, bullying and harassment.
- Strong health equity and health and safety lens and knowledge and experience with gender diverse, racialized persons and youth populations; lived experience working in the food and beverage industry is an asset.
Skills
- Excellent time management skills including the ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines.
- Ability to work collaboratively with other team members and ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to manage multiple competing priorities and projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment under deadlines.
- Demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to anti-oppression principles.
- Ability to maintain researcher-participant confidentiality.
- Computer skills including experience in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- Ability to exercise initiative, judgment, discretion, and have strong interpersonal skills.
- Ability to analyze and effectively resolve issues.
- Class 5 Driver’s License an asset for use of CGSHE/UBC outreach van.
We are prioritizing BIPOC and LGBTQ/2S people, as well as other grounded expertise with a human rights and employment equity lens.
About our organizations
PWHS is dedicated to addressing current and emerging issues of work-related health in British Columbia. Our team is comprised of a diverse and multidisciplinary group of faculty, students, and staff, situated in the School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) in the Faculty of Medicine at UBC. Our research results inform the design of evidence-based policies and prevention programs to create safer and more secure workplaces, and help improve opportunities for recovery after injuries occur. CGSHE, hosted at Providence Health Care and affiliated with UBC and SFU, has a strategic mandate to advance gender and sexual health equity among under-serviced populations in BC, Canada, and globally through research, policy, and practice. The Qualitative Research Lead/Interviewer will work in a team environment with statisticians, analysts, librarians, programmers, researchers, and faculty at SPPH and CGSHE as well as with a multidisciplinary team of investigators, industry stakeholders, and policy makers.
To apply
Please apply by April 20, 2022 via the UBC Staff Careers website. This is a one-year term appointment with possibility of extension.
Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
New paper: Exploring differences in work disability duration by size of firm in Canada and Australia
Immigrant status, gender and work disability duration
December 2021: The results of graduate trainee Niloufar Saffari’s thesis work are published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Using a novel linkage of BC workers’ compensation claims and permanent resident data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Saffari et al found that both recent and established immigrants in BC experience more days of disability after work injury than Canadian-born workers.
Learn more about our further work on work disability for immigrant workers: Immigration status and work disability duration
WorkSafeBC Research Training Awards and Postdoctoral Fellowships
November 2021: WorkSafeBC is seeking applicants for Research Training Awards, available to highly-qualified graduate students at the master’s and doctoral level. To qualify, applicants need to be engaged in a full-time graduate studies program with a BC university. International students are welcome to apply. These awards enable students to undertake research training with a focus on workplace health and safety. Learn more
WorkSafeBC is also seeking recent doctoral graduates who are training for careers as academic researchers in occupational health and safety or work disability to apply to the 2022 Ralph McGinn Postdoctoral Fellowship competition. The competition is open to recent doctoral graduates (within four years of completing their PhD) who hold a postdoctoral position at a Canadian university or research institution. Learn more
Applications are due February 18, 2022 at 4 pm PST.
We are hiring! Seeking a postdoctoral research fellow
November 2021: PWHS is seeking a postdoctoral fellow to lead work on evidence syntheses (including systematic reviews, meta-analyses, scoping reviews, and briefing notes) in the area of occupational epidemiology and work and health research to inform policies and practices. One key project, for example, is a synthesis of the scientific evidence on the relationship between occupational exposure to asbestos and the risk of gastro-intestinal cancers to inform compensation policy.
Housed within the Faculty of Medicine, the School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) is an innovative unit structured around four divisions (Occupational and Environmental Health; Health Services and Policy; Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Public Health Practice; and Health in Populations) that provides multidisciplinary opportunities for researchers, learners and decision makers to develop creative evidence-based strategies to solve public health issues. Operating within SPPH, PWHS brings together researchers, policymakers, and data resources from SPPH, WorkSafeBC (the Workers’ Compensation Board of BC), and external partners to address current and emerging issues of work-related health and workers’ compensation in innovative ways, using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
The primary activities of the postdoctoral fellow include:
- Lead evidence synthesis methodologies, including:
- Organize and structure evidence synthesis protocols according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, in consultation with the project advisors, lead and collaborators;
- Develop evidence search strategies and inclusion/exclusion criteria for evidence synthesis projects;
- Conduct evidence search strategies and screen abstracts and full-text articles relative to the inclusion/exclusion criteria to assess their suitability for an evidence synthesis to respond to the research question(s);
- Use data extraction software such as Covidence, and validate data abstraction and assess the quality of studies;
- Work with investigative teams and collaborators to develop occupational exposure metrics across studies for meta-analyses, including for asbestos exposures;
- Conduct meta-analyses to respond to the research questions on relationships between occupational exposures and cancers, specifically occupational asbestos exposure and gastrointestinal cancers;
- Lead and organize internal research team meetings including meeting with funder and other stakeholders (agendas with decisions/action items);
- Plan and write briefing notes for the investigators, interim reports for the funder, slide presentations for policy makers;
- Develop and maintain comprehensive study/methodological documentation;
- Co-author and author publications for peer-review journals.
- Coordinate and assist with the preparation of new evidence synthesis research grant application(s).
- Participate in knowledge translation (KT) activities.
- Participate in team meetings.
- Contribute to PWHS academic activities and to the SPPH academic community.
Troubleshoot and problem solve for projects, as necessary.
Qualifications
Education
- PhD or equivalent degree in epidemiology, occupational hygiene, or related health sciences preferred.
Experience
- Minimum of five years of experience using evidence synthesis methodologies and research software/tools (e.g., Covindence and STATA software) is required (and as demonstrated by authorship on systematic review publications, conference presentations, or letter of support from previous supervisors).
- Research experience related to occupational hygiene, and in particular occupational exposure assessment, is preferred.
- Experience collaborating as part of a multi-disciplinary and international research team, and attention to detail for methodological documentation, are assets.
- Experience writing for publication in academic journals is preferred.
Skills
- Ability to write in explanatory and procedural styles for multiple audiences.
- Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities.
- Ability to exercise initiative, judgment, and discretion.
- Ability to analyze and effectively resolve issues.
- Interpersonal skills including the ability to work effectively independently and in a team.
The position reports to Dr. Mieke Koehoorn. Work will be reviewed for soundness of approach, analysis, and manuscript preparation. The incumbent may receive specific guidance for the research methods from the project investigators and collaborators.
This position requires a considerable degree of research experience, creativity, industriousness, and independence to complete the research deliverables within the 12 month time period with an international team of investigators and collaborators.
Errors in judgement may have significant influence in the ability of the research team to meet critical deadlines, as well as compromise the results of research project. Poor decisions may be damaging to the reputation of the Principal Investigator, the School, and the University and could lead to incorrect or inappropriate policy recommendations being made. Incorrect meta-analysis or interpretation of findings can adversely impact the results of a study, resulting in rejection of manuscripts.
This position will be responsible for access, collection, use and disclosure of personal information in accordance with the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (RSBC 1996) and other UBC privacy and security policies. This position requires employees to work under strict confidentiality requirements; internal procedures and policies to protect personal information must be followed and adherence to these requirements will be regularly reviewed by the employer.
To apply
Please apply by December 16, 2021 via the UBC Faculty Careers website. This is a one year term appointment with a possibility of an extension to a second year. Please note that while the posting end date is December 13, applications will still be accepted until 11:59 pm PST on December 16.
New paper shows differences in work disability duration for immigrants and Canadian-born workers
November 2021: PWHS postdoctoral fellow Dr. Sonja Senthanar and colleagues examined differences in disability duration after a work injury among immigrants compared to Canadian-born workers in BC. Published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the study categorized immigrants as economic, family member or refugee/other classification upon arrival to Canada and linked immigration records with workers’ compensation claims for work-related back strain, connective tissue, concussion, and fracture injuries requiring at least one paid day of work disability benefits between 2009 to 2015. With a few exceptions, immigrants experienced greater predicted disability days compared to Canadian-born workers within the same injury cohort. The largest differences were observed for family and refugee/other immigrant classification workers, and, in particular, for women within these classifications. These findings, based on an innovative use of Canadian linked administrative data, have important implications for creating a fair and equitable workers’ compensation system and in ensuring that immigrants to Canada have successful working lives.
Read the article here.
Presentations at EPICOH 2021
October 2021: PWHS co-leads Mieke Koehoorn and Chris McLeod and several researchers connected to PWHS are giving a series of presentations on gender/sex differences in workers’ compensation, mesothelioma, differences in disability duration after work injury for immigrant workers, by firm size, and in the construction industry, and more, at the 28th International Symposium on Epidemiology in Occupational Health (EPICOH) conference, October 25-28.
Monday, October 25
Gender/sex differences in workers’ compensation for hearing loss, concussions and activity-related soft tissue disorder (ASTDs) in British Columbia, Canada
Mieke Koehoorn
Symposia Presentations 1 | 11:45-13:15 EDT
Tuesday, October 26
Changing trends for mesothelioma in Canada and their implications
Paul Demers
Concurrent Oral Presentations B | 11:15-12:15 EDT
Examining variations in work disability duration by firm size: a comparative study of workers’ compensation claims in Canada and Australia
Chris McLeod
Concurrent Oral Presentations B | 11:15-12:15 EDT
Men and women at work in Canada, 1991-2016
Emma Quinn
Concurrent Oral Presentations C | 15:15 – 16:15 EDT
Wednesday, October 27
A media surveillance analysis of COVID-19 workplace outbreaks in Canada and the United States
Shelby Fenton
Posters 3 | 10:45-11:15 EDT
Understanding age differences in retirement expectations using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging
Jonathan Fan
Concurrent Oral Presentations D | 11:15-12:15 EDT
Immigrant workers and work disability duration in British Columbia, Canada
Mieke Koehoorn
Concurrent Oral Presentations D | 11:15-12:15 EDT
Does participation in modified return to work differ for immigrant compared to Canadian-born workers in British Columbia, Canada?
Mieke Koehoorn
Rapid Fire 2 | 12:45-13:15 EDT
An umbrella review of the work and health impacts of working in a pandemic environment
Jonathan Fan
Concurrent Oral Presentations E | 14:00 – 15:15 EDT
Evaluating program effectiveness on return-to-work after work-related injury in the construction sector
Chris McLeod
Concurrent Oral Presentations E | 14:00-15:15 EDT
Thursday, October 28
Young people’s depressive symptom trajectories and their education and employment: Comparing Canada and the United States
Anita Minh
Symposia Presentations 2 | 11:15-12:15 EDT