A mixed methods research study that is assessing the reliability and validity of the VAT instrument that was created to assess the risk of violence from patients towards healthcare workers in an acute care setting by the PSHSA.

Ontario’s underground workers are being over-exposed to harmful diesel particulates, which cause occupational diseases. Ontario’s Occupational Exposure Limit for diesel particulates need to be reduced to 20 µm/m^3. The purpose of this study was two-fold: 1) to educate mine workers and community stakeholders about the hazards of Diesel Exhaust; and 2) stimulate policy-makers in Canada to take action to both enforce higher standards of protection and induce change in mine workplaces. We helped get the MLITSD to reduce the OEL from 400 µm/m^3 to 120 µm/m&3. Now our goal is to get the OEL reduced from 120 µm/m^3 to 20 µm/m^3. Relatedly, for her Masters work, Megan Wickie is evaluating the healthcare and economic burden of high diesel particulate matter occupational exposure limits in Northern Ontario’s underground mining industry.

The prevalence of allergic respiratory diseases, such as allergic rhinitis (AR), has dramatically increased worldwide with global warming being a significant contributing factor. AR causes severe disruptions to one’s quality of life, sleep, and productivity. Nearly 1 in 4 Canadians have allergic rhinitis (e.g. hay fever) and up to 78% of individuals in specific work environments develop occupational rhinitis with the primary treatment strategy being over-the-counter anti-histamine medications.

Chronic exposure to foot-transmitted vibration (e.g. in mining and construction industries) can increase risk of vibration-induced white foot. This condition can cause pain, numbness, and cold sensitivity in the feet and toes, as well as blanching of the toes (House et al., 2010).