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2011 Competitions – Focus on Tomorrow
Fifteen grants were awarded as part of WorkSafeBC's Focus on Tomorrow research program, an annual competition designed to fund independent, scientific studies on issues that are relevant to workers, employers, and WorkSafeBC. Included are smaller, “shop-floor” projects aimed at transferring new knowledge into action or addressing specific occupational hazards.
As in previous years, the 2011 competition elicited a collection of high-standard research proposals that target a range of issues of importance and relevance to WorkSafeBC and its stakeholders. They include a mixture of operating grants and development grants from university researchers under Research at Work, and shop-floor projects from both university and industry researchers under Innovation at Work.
Five of this year's projects will be jointly funded by WorkSafeBC and our partners in Alberta or Nova Scotia. One project will be fully funded by Nova Scotia but administered through WorkSafeBC’s research program. These partnerships are intended to provide a greater pool of funds for potential research projects and encourage studies that will have broader impact on workplaces across Canada.
We would like to thank all who participated in our 2011 competition — including the numerous scientific experts who reviewed the proposals, WorkSafeBC reviewers, the members of our 2011 Advisory Committee and all who submitted grant proposals.
Ed McCloskey
Director, Research Secretariat
Policy and Research Division
Operating grants approved May 2011
Five proposals were approved for funding. In total, 15 proposals were submitted by the closing date.
| Principal investigator | Title of project | Institution |
|---|---|---|
Sheilah Hogg-Johnson |
Early Opioid Prescriptions for Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Back: Understanding Utilization Patterns, Determinants, and Impact on Work Disability |
Institute for Work & Health |
Amin Hammad |
Improving Construction Safety using Ultra-wideband Real-time Location System and 3D |
Concordia University |
Christopher Carlsten |
Occupational Diesel Exhaust: Mechanisms of Airway Reactivity that Inform Preventive Measures |
University of British Columbia |
Elizabeth Bryce |
The Impact of a Mandated Provincial Hand Hygiene Program on Healthcare Worker Compliance, Health and Perception of Safety Climate; Monitoring the Change Management Process |
University of British Columbia |
Nicola Cherry |
Women’s Heath in Apprenticeship Trades - Metal Workers and Electricians (WHAT-ME) |
University of Alberta |
Development grants approved May 2011
Four proposals were approved for funding. In total, 10 proposals were submitted by the closing date.
| Principal investigator | Title of project | Institution |
|---|---|---|
Nicholas Rose |
A Pilot Study Towards a Randomized Clinical Trial of Cast Immobilization versus Functional Therapy for Acute, Severe Lateral Ankle Sprains |
University of British Columbia |
Mieke Koehoorn |
Association of Past Hysterectomy with Low Back Injury: A Retrospective Study of Direct Healthcare Workers |
University of British Columbia |
Alex Scott |
The Role of Mast Cells and Nerves in Overuse Tendinopathy: Clinical and Laboratory Studies |
University of British Columbia |
Izabela Schultz |
Toward Effective Work Accommodation of Injured Workers: Accommodation as Social Interaction |
University of British Columbia |
Innovation grants approved May 2011
Six proposals were approved for funding. In total, 17 proposals were submitted by the closing date.
| Principal applicant | Title of project | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Rita Ciconte & Quinn Danyluk | Assessment and Determination of Practical Considerations for Wide-scale Utilization of Elastometric Half-facepiece Respirators during a Pandemic or Outbreak Situation | Fraser Health |
| Ryan Kanigan | Assessment of the Efficacy of Safety Engineered Scalpels | Peak Research |
| Winnie Chu | Development of an Effective Cleaning Agent for Cytotoxic Drugs | NANOZEN Industries Inc. |
| Séamus Parker | Development of Enhanced Emergency Braking System for Logging Trailers | FPInnovations |
| Murray Hodgson | Exposure of Teachers to Occupational Hazards in High-School Technology-Education Shops | University of British Columbia |
| Tyler Amell | Proof of Concept for an Innovative Approach to Physical Job Demands Analysis | LifeMark Health Management |