2021 Grants recipients

1. Paul Demers, Ontario Health (Toronto)

“COVID-19 surveillance of Ontario workers: testing, infection, and health outcomes”

$279,635.06 over two years

Dr. Paul Demers, Director, Occupational Cancer Research Centre, Ontario Health

Project summary

This occupational COVID-19 surveillance project will aim to answer: which occupation/industry groups have increased rates of COVID-19 (1) testing, (2) diagnosis, (3) hospitalizations, and (4) ventilator use? This will provide insight into working conditions and factors that influence the spread and impact of COVID-19. This surveillance project may also be useful in examining the impact and effectiveness of health and safety measures including the designation of essential services and introduction of mandatory masking.

2. Steven Fischer, University of Waterloo (Waterloo)

“Rapid design and evaluation of a virtual augmented FCE protocol”

$224,912.43 over two years

Dr. Steven Fischer, Associate Professor, Dept. of Health / Kinesiology, University of Waterloo

Project summary

Currently, injured workers are required to visit a clinic, in-person, for functional capacity evaluation (FCE). This requirement has always caused problems for workers in remote areas without easy access to clinics. COVID-19 has amplified the problem of the in-person clinic visit requirement for FCE, such that many injured workers are currently unable to complete FCEs due to COVID-19 related service disruptions and clinic closures. We aim to develop and evaluate an FCE protocol that can be delivered virtually, eliminating the in-person clinic visit requirement problem.

3. Tracy Lea Kirkham, Ontario Health (Toronto)

“Validation of respirator fit testing for emergency workers during simulated life support tasks”

$239,999.46 over two years

Dr. Tracy Lea Kirkham, Scientist, Occupational Cancer Research Centre, Ontario Health

Project summary

Paramedics are front-line healthcare workers who work near patients that may have infectious diseases. Effective respiratory protection is vital in preventing paramedics from contracting airborne infectious diseases, like COVID-19. Tasks involving patient handling (e.g. lifting patients) and life support (e.g. cardiopulmonary resuscitation) can result in awkward movements/postures that can compromise the mask fit. These tasks also put paramedics at the greatest risk of exposure to airborne infectious diseases. Current respiratory fit testing protocols may not adequately represent these movements and may be putting paramedics at risk of exposure. We aim to conduct an experimental study to test respiratory fit during simulated paramedic tasks.

4. Shawn Marshall, Bruyère Research Institute (Ottawa)   

“Development and determination of reliability of a virtual neurological assessment for workplace concussions”

$270,000 over two years

Dr. Shawn Marshall, Department Head, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Bruyère Continuing Care, Bruyère Research Institute

Project summary

COVID-19 has presented rehabilitation with a need to adjust the way concussions are assessed and treated. Currently, there is no validated virtual neurological examination available to assess workers. The plan for this research is to develop and validate a virtual neurological exam in order to more effectively evaluate the worker, guide treatment intervention and monitor recovery, which can in turn, lead to improved patient outcomes. Developing a valid method for virtual neurological examination will advance the ability to provide care to concussion-injured workers who are not able to be assessed in person.

5. Cameron Mustard, Institute for Work & Health (Toronto)

“Health and labour market outcomes among lost-time claimants in the shadow cast by the COVID-19 emergency”

$287,729 over two years

Dr. Cameron Mustard, President and Senior Scientist, Institute for Work & Health

Project summary

Workers with health conditions that impair labour force participation are a subgroup of the labour force likely to be particularly vulnerable to experiencing adverse consequences of this emergency. The objective of this proposed research is to document the economic, social and health impacts of the unprecedented contraction in the Canadian labour market caused by COVID-19 among workers with health impairments. Specifically, this proposal is focused on the medium- to long-term health and social status of Ontario workers who experienced a disabling work-related injury or illness in the period prior to the COVID-19 emergency, but whose period of recovery and return-to-work intersected with the sharp and severe contraction in employment caused by COVID-19.

6. Mieke Koehoorn, The University of British Columbia (Vancouver)

“Occupational asbestos exposure and gastrointestinal cancers – A systematic review”

$150,000 over one year

Dr. Mieke Koehoorn Professor; Associate Research Director, Occupational and Environmental Health Division, The University of British Columbia

Project summary

We are proposing a systematic review and meta-analyses of the current evidence on asbestos and GI cancers that includes a comprehensive and critical exposure assessment perspective by investigators with training and expertise in occupational epidemiology and hygiene/exposure assessment, similar to that of the IARC review and as advocated for by experts in cancer epidemiology. We will utilize this expertise to undertake sophisticated classification of the level of asbestos exposure across cohort studies that takes into consideration issues of duration, intensity, frequency, time periods, job/job tasks, and risk estimates for other asbestos-related cancers.

7. Susan Tarlo, University of Toronto (Toronto)

“Occupational exposure to vapours, gases, dusts and fumes and the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – A Systematic Review”

$ 165,375 over 18 months

Dr. Susan Tarlo, Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto

Project summary

We are proposing a systematic review and meta-analyses of the current scientific evidence examining if occupational exposure to vapours, gases, dusts and fumes causes the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

8. Mieke Koehoorn, The University of British Columbia (Vancouver)

“Occupational Asbestos Exposure and Lung Cancers – A Systematic Review”

$190,780 over 18 months

Dr. Mieke Koehoorn, Professor; Associate Research Director, Occupational and Environmental Health Division, The University of British Columbia

Project summary

We are proposing a systematic review and meta-analyses of the current scientific evidence for an association between primary site lung cancer and occupational exposure to asbestos, including describing the role of asbestosis in the noted association.