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Changing nature of work and work environment
A Safety Assessment System for Resource Roads 
This project aims to develop a new system for assessing the safety of resource roads using existing road geometry data. It will evaluate the data collection technologies used, will create software tools to automate the extraction of sight distances from the road geometry data, and will develop a final product for road managers for planning upgrades and making road networks safer.
| Principal Applicant: | Douglas Bennett (FPInnovations-FERIC Division) |
| Co-Applicant: | Glen Legere (Pt. Claire Quebec - FPInnovations) |
| Funding Awarded: | $47,350 (Innovation) |
| Competition Year: | 2009 |
Acoustical Environments in VCH Health-Care Facilities, Phase 1: Measurement Tools and Pilot Studies
This research is a first phase of an intervention study to address effects of noise levels in long-term health care facilities. The aim of the project is to improve acoustical environments in health care facilities in order to reduce stress and aggressive behaviour toward staff.
| Principal Applicant: | Murray Hodgson (UBC) |
| Co-Applicants: | George Astrakianakis (OHSAH); Maureen Haddock (Vancouver Coastal Health) |
| Funding Awarded: | $49,943* (Innovation) |
| Competition Year: | 2008 |
*In partnership with the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia
Analysis of Safety Implications in the use of Accelerated Log Building Systems against Statistical Data within the Log Building Industry
This research seeks to determine the extent to which a new building methodology will prevent falls and soft tissue injuries in the log building industry. It will analyze Accelerated Log Building Systems (ALBS), a system using a manufacturing process whereby log building is conducted always at waist height, without the need for ladders or scaffolds, which are often incorrectly used in the log building industry, causing injury.
| Principal Applicant: | Jim McDonald (Northwest Community College) |
| Co-Applicant: | Robert Savignac (Northwest Community College) |
| Funding Awarded: | $78,700 (Innovation) |
| Competition Year: | 2008 |
Development of Descent Guidelines for Log-hauling Vehicles (highway legal configurations)
This research project will develop descent guidelines for highway size logging trucks, with an aim to use these guidelines to establish criteria required to safely descend steep roads, thereby improving the safety for drivers of these vehicles.
| Principal Applicant: | Séamus Parker (FERIC) |
| Funding Awarded: | $30,031* (Innovation) |
| Competition Year: | 2007 |
*In partnership with the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia
Examining Determinants and Consequences of Work-injuries among Older Workers
This research project seeks to describe the trends and patterns of work-injuries among older workers, and will examine the consequences of these injuries relative to workers of younger ages in British Columbia and Canada.
| Principal Investigator: | Peter Smith (IWH) |
| Co-Investigators: | Dorcas Beaton, Sheilah Hogg-Johnson, Selahadin Ibrahim (IWH) |
| Funding Awarded: | $225,000* (2 years) |
| Competition Year: | 2009 |
*In partnership with the WCB of Nova Scotia
Identification of Potential Risk Factors for Injury to Police Officers using New Technologies
This research explores the possible links between injuries to police officers, their equipment and technology (on personnel duty belts and in police vehicles), and musculoskeletal injuries and motor vehicle accidents. The research aims to identify, develop, modify and support workplace safety and well-being initiatives, contributing to injury reduction among police officers.
| Principal Applicant: | Axel Hovbrender (Justice Institute of British Columbia) |
| Co-Applicant: | Silvia Raschke (BCIT) |
| Funding Awarded: | $15,138* (Innovation) |
| Competition Year: | 2008 |
*In partnership with the WCB of Nova Scotia
Immigrant Workers' Experiences after Work-related Injury in British Columbia: Identifying Key Questions and Building Research Capacity
This research will examine immigrant workers’ experiences after a work-related injury, including issues such as their experiences with the workers’ compensation system and their knowledge of and willingness to invoke their rights. The study aims to identify key research gaps regarding these issues in the B.C. context and to link researchers with community stakeholders. The research findings may also be used to inform more comprehensive research on injured immigrant workers in B.C.
| Principal Investigator: | Agnieszka Kosny (IWH) |
| Co-Investigators: | Ellen MacEachen, Peter Smith (IWH), John Shields (Ryerson) |
| Funding Awarded: | $30,000* |
| Competition Year: | 2008 |
*In partnership with the WCB of Nova Scotia
In-service Evaluation of Onboard Brake Monitoring Device for Logging Trucks
This project will assess the reliability and acceptance of a brake temperature monitoring system to improve log truck safety. The technology is designed to alert drivers of the current condition and performance of service brakes allowing them to adjust braking applications as well as truck speed to control brake temperatures. The aim of this project is to demonstrate the reliability and acceptance of the technology.
| Principal Applicant: | Séamus Parker (FP Innovations) |
| Funding Awarded: | $40,079 (Innovation) |
| Competition Year: | 2007 |
Mobile Equipment Safety System
Completed
A Mobile Equipment Safety System is being developed to prevent the all-to-frequent occurrence of accidents resulting in short term disability, long-term disability, and fatalities related to mobile equipment in workplaces (including forklifts, log loaders, lumber carriers, backhoes, dump trucks and bulldozers). This research aims to test and perfect the device that essentially shuts down equipment when a worker is detected in its pathway. It is expected that the new device will enhance existing safety protocol in order to prevent these injuries.
| Principal Applicant: | Richard Shervey (Pro-active Safety Systems Technologies Inc.) |
| Funding Awarded: | $200,000 (Innovation) |
| Competition Years: | 2008 & 2009 |
Phase II - Slider Sheet System for Bed Repositioning -- Incorporating Lessons Learned from Phase I
This research will evaluate the use of a newly modified slider sheet system to assist nurses with manual repositioning of bed patients. The system is designed to reduce the physical demands required of these workers and to therefore reduce associated musculoskeletal injuries.
| Principal Applicant: | Nancy McGovern (IHA) |
| Co-Applicant: | Marjorie Brims (IHA) |
| Funding Awarded: | $50,000* (Innovation) |
| Competition Year: | 2008 |
*In partnership with the WCB of Nova Scotia
Testing Remotely Operated Hydraulic Flange Spreaders for Manual Tree Falling
Historically, manual tree falling has one of the highest frequencies of fatalities and serious injuries in the logging industry. This research will determine the effectiveness of a holding wood design procedure using light weight hydraulic flange spreaders to remotely fall trees, aimed to prevent tree falling injuries.
| Principal Investigator: | Kevin Lyons (UBC) |
| Funding Awarded: | $76,590 (2 years) |
| Competition Year: | 2008 |
The Evaluation of Acoustical Environments in Long-term Care Facilities and the Risk of Aggressive Behaviour and Work Place Stress
This study seeks to characterize the impact of background noise levels and other characteristics of the acoustical environment on several long term care facilities on their staff and resident populations. The researchers will collect measures of workplace stress and review reports of aggressive behaviour incidents, and examine their association with measures of the acoustical environment.
| Principal Investigator: | George Astrakianakis (UBC) |
| Co-Investigators: | Murray Hodgson, Pamela Ratner (UBC); Maureen Haddock (VCH) |
| Funding Awarded: | $278,071* (2 years) |
| Competition Year: | 2009 |
*In partnership with the WCB of Nova Scotia
Using Remotely Operated Jacks to Fall Dangerous Trees
Completed
The objective of this project is to determine if it is possible to use light-weight remotely operated jacks to hand fall dangerous trees, and therefore reduce the risk of injury to hand fallers. This project will first determine the jacking force required to fall dangerous trees given the amount and location of the holding wood. Given the required jacking force it will be determined if it is possible to develop a remotely operated jack that weighs less than 10 lbs.
| Principal Investigator: | Kevin Lyons (UBC) |
| Funding Awarded: | $26,800* |
| Competition Year: | 2007 |
*In partnership with the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia
Wireless Personal Protection System
Researchers have developed a safety device which will prevent workers from being caught in or struck by machinery, by creating a proximity detector which will apply brakes or shut down equipment when a worker gets within a certain range. This project aims to conduct further development by identifying the inconsistencies in the current wireless personal protection prototype and developing the criteria or adjustments needed to make the device completely reliable and accurate.
| Principal Applicant: | Richard Shervey (Pro-active Safety Systems Technologies) |
| Co-applicant: | John DaSilva (Pro-active Safety Systems Technologies) |
| Funding Awarded: | $46,000 (Innovation) |
| Competition Year: | 2007 |