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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
Completed
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
Assessment and Determination of Practical Considerations for Wide-scale Utilization of Elastometric Half-facepiece Respirators during a Pandemic or Outbreak Situation
N95 filtering facepiece respirators are the primary choice among respirators, but they cannot be disinfected for re-use and must be disposed of after use by a patient. Because of high demand during a pandemic or wide-scale outbreak, availability can become extremely limited from suppliers. This project will investigate whether it is feasible to utilize reusable elastomeric half-facepiece respirators in place of N95 filtering facepiece respirators.
| Principal Applicants: | Rita Ciconte & Quinn Danyluk (Fraser Health) |
| Co-Applicants: | Prescillia Chua, Sandra Daniels, Terry Dickson, Gerry Ducholke (Fraser Health); George Astrakianakis (UBC) |
| Funding Awarded: | $50,000* (Innovation) |
| Competition Year: | 2011 |
*In partnership with the WCB of Nova Scotia
Assessment of the Efficacy of Safety Engineered Scalpels
The objectives of this project are to: (1) develop a set of design requirements for safety-engineered scalpels that healthcare professionals and safety committees can use to assist in determining what sharps products provide the highest level of protection; and, (2) develop and test a scalpel design based on user input from both surgeons and operating room nurses.
| Principal Applicant: | Ryan Kanigan (Peak Research) |
| Co-Applicants: | Nancy Paris (BCIT); John Pacey (Verathon) |
| Funding Awarded: | $50,000 (Innovation) |
| Competition Year: | 2011 |
Avalanche Floatation Devices – Current Status at the Canadian Workplace
This research will examine the existing experiences and challenges of using avalanche floatation devices for workers exposed to avalanche hazard. The results of this study will provide a detailed overview of the current use of the devices and offer an objective and comprehensive perspective on the possible benefits and challenges in the design and application of the current devices.
| Principal Applicant: | Ian Tomm (Canadian Avalanche Association) |
| Co-Applicants: | Pascal Haegeli (Avisualanche Consulting) |
| Funding Awarded: | $48,717.50 (Innovation) |
| Competition Year: | 2010 |
Changing the Sheets The Slider Sheet System – Phase Two: Incorporating Lessons Learned from Phase one
Completed
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
Creating a Safe Client Handling Culture in the Challenging Environment of Emergency Departments
Relative to other industries in B.C., there continues to be high rates of musculoskeletal injuries within the healthcare industry. Emergency Departments are faced with unique challenges due to their often faced-paced, chaotic environments. The unpredictable patient populations of emergency departments result in unpredictable demands on staff, particularly around patient mobility. This project proposes to develop, deliver, and examine the effect of embedding a safe client handling expert in to the emergency department team, ultimately incorporating safe client handling into the clinical practice in the emergency department. This intervention is intended to result in reduced injuries and improved teamwork, work organization and overall safety culture within the work unit.
| Principal Applicant: | Martha Cloutier (Fraser Health Authority) |
| Co-Applicants: | Nermin Helal, Leah Thomas-Olson, Alison Hutchison (Fraser Health Authority) |
| Funding Awarded: | $50,000 (Innovation) |
| Competition Year: | 2010 |
Developing a Remotely Operated Falling Wedge
This research projects builds on a previously funded project to protect fallers from injury, by developing a manual tree falling technique that will remove the faller from the base of the tree during the hazardous period when the tree begins to move. This project will develop a spring driven remotely operated wedge that will produce a jacking force greater than the 10,000 lb flange spreader that is currently being used, which will also weigh less and will not require a hydraulic system to run it.
| Principal Applicant: | Kevin Lyons (UBC) |
| Maximum Budget: | $32,280 (Innovation) |
| Year Funded: | 2009 |
Development of an Ergonomic Syringe Adapter
Completed
An ergonomic assessment conducted by the Provincial Health Services Authority revealed that there is a high risk of injury to the hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow of British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA) nurses who administer chemotherapy drugs using large volume syringes. The goal of this project is to further design and develop an ergonomic syringe adapter that will help to eliminate awkward hand and finger postures, and reduce hand grip force so that risk of injury for users is prevented or reduced.
| Principal Investigator: | Rick Hall (Vancouver Coastal Health - PHSA) |
| Co-Investigators: | Dennis Schweers (Children’s & Women’s Hospital), Nigel Halsted, Yvette Jones (BCIT), Patrick Rebstein (BC Cancer Agency) |
| Funding Awarded: | $49,956 (Innovation) |
| Competition Year: | 2010 |
Development of Descent Guidelines for Log-hauling Vehicles (Highway Legal Configurations)
Completed
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
FIT - Fishboat Inclinometer Testing
(Commercial Fishing Vessel Behavior: Predicted vs. Actual)
This project is intended to inform safe operation stability for commercial fishing vessels. It will design, build, integrate and install a unique assemblage of high-tech devices, including but not limited to solid state inclinometers and accelerometers aboard a commercial fishing vessel. Analysis will include vessel behaviour while at sea compared to predictive analysis for that vessel. The intent is to inform best practices and to tailor minimum stability standards in the regulated environment for commercial fishing vessels under 24 meters in length.
| Principal Applicant: | Steven Threadkell (PortShip Consulting Inc.) |
| Co-Applicants: | Peter Nicol (Summit Metrology), Alex Brydon (MerLion Marine) |
| Funding Awarded: | $56,550* (Innovation) |
| Competition Year: | 2010 |
*In partnership with the WCB of Nova Scotia
Identification of Potential Risk Factors for Injury to Police Officers using New Technologies
Completed
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
Completed
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
Improving Construction Safety using Ultra-wideband Real-time Location System and 3D
This research aims to improve construction safety by providing intelligent assistance, such as giving warnings and guidance to equipment operators and workers, and re-planning the path of the equipment when a potential collision is detected. The potential obstacles will be detected using a new type of sensor called Ultra-wideband Real-Time Location System.
| Principal Investigator | Amin Hammad (Concordia University) |
| Co-Investigator: | Cheng Zhang (Concordia University) |
| Funding Awarded: | $187,800 (2 years) |
| Competition Year: | 2011 |
In-service Evaluation of Onboard Brake Monitoring Device for Logging Trucks
Completed
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
Accidents involving mobile equipment in workplaces – including forklifts, log loaders, lumber carriers, backhoes, dump trucks, and bulldozers – are all too common, and can lead to injuries that result in short- or long-term disability and even fatalities. This innovative research project was developed in three phases to test and perfect an automatic system that can warn workers when they are in danger of being struck by a moving piece of equipment, and that would have the potential to slow or even stop the machine in emergency situations. The device was designed to enhance existing safety protocols in an effort to prevent injuries involving mobile equipment.
| Principal Applicant: | Richard Shervey (Pro-active Safety Systems Technologies Inc.) |
| Funding Awarded: | $246,000 (Innovation) |
| Competition Years: | 2007, 2008 & 2009 |
On-Water Visibility Study - Determining the most Visible Colour that can be Worn by Floating Subjects
Completed
This project will evaluate the effectiveness of specific shades of colour for immersion suits and lifejackets in the ocean environment. The research goal is to determine the most conspicuous colour for safety purposes.
| Principal Applicant: | Wendell Uglene (Mustang Survival Corp.) |
| Co-Applicants: | Simon Hammond, Cheryl So (Mustang Survival Corp.) |
| Funding Awarded: | $25,850 (Innovation) |
| Year Funded: | 2009 |
Proof of Concept for an Innovative Approach to Physical Job Demands Analysis
The purpose of this research is to investigate a proof of concept approach to a method of Physical Job Demands Analysis by employing state-of-the-art technology through the use of inertial and force-sensitive sensors worn by workers. Principle components of PJDAs include information on the timing of work, frequency of activities such as lifting, lowering, overhead work, as well as the internal and external forces involved in carrying out work. This method could make it possible to collect, process, and analyze large amounts of useful information on a wide variety of job types and environments to significantly improve injury and illness prevention, as well as return-to-work accommodation of an injured worker.
| Principal Applicant: | Tyler Amell (LifeMark Health Management) |
| Co-Applicants: | Tim Watzak (Sport Innovation Centre); Gord Sleivert (Canadian Sport Centre Pacific) |
| Funding Awarded: | $49,060* (Innovation) |
| Year Funded: | 2011 |
*In partnership with the WCB of Nova Scotia
Testing Remotely Operated Hydraulic Flange Spreaders for Manual Tree Falling
Completed
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 |