Projects

We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished with our project partners over the years. Today, we are working on a number of projects related to occupational health and safety. We encourage you to explore our Featured, Active, and Completed projects, below. This page is currently being updated.

Researcher making notes while a worker wearing monitoring equipment sits on a robotic chair

Featured Projects

  • Heat Stress Toolkit Logo

    FEATURED

    Heat Stress Toolkit

    Researchers:

    Sandra Dorman, Courtney Lessel, Margaret Kanya-Forstner, Dominique Gagnon, Tobi Mankis

    Full Description

    Partner(s):

    OHCOW(https://www.ohcow.on.ca)

    Associated paper(s):

    N/A

    Associated resource(s):

    N/A

    Heat stress is a serious threat to workers. It occurs when the body is unable to get rid of excess heat, which causes the heart rate and core body temperature to increase, often leading to heat-related illness. The tools in the Heat Stress Toolkit will help you understand the heat conditions in your workplace, assess the risk of heat stress, and take action to protect yourself or your workers.

    The toolkit includes:

    • Guides
    • Calculator tools
    • Videos
    • Infographics
    • And more

    You can access the free toolkit here.

    CROSH is proud to have partnered with OHCOW to develop the Heat Stress Toolkit.

    Slide that shows the contents of the Heat Stress Toolkit. Text that says "Guides, Calculator, Videos, Infographics". The slide shows the front covers of the "Heat Stress Awareness Guide" the "Heat Stress Physiological Monitoring Guide" and "Heat Stress Prevention Tools and Strategies"; it shows a screenshot of a heat stress calculator tool; a video thumbnail; small images showing a selection of infographics; and The Heat Stress Toolkit logo with a QR code.

     

  • Icon of a checklist and a medical cross

    Yes

    FEATURED

    Assessing the reliability and validity of the Public Services Health and Safety Association Acute Care Violence Assessment Tool (VAT)

    Researchers:

    Dr. Judith Horrigan, Henrietta Van Hulle, Dr. Renée Berquist, Leata Ann Rigg, Jessica Dugas, Oghenefego Akpomi-Eferakeya

    Full Description

    Partner(s):

    Public Services Health and Safety Association(https://www.pshsa.ca), St. Lawrence College, Brockville; Northern College, Timmins; Sault College, Sault Ste. Marie

    Associated paper(s):

    N/A

    Associated resource(s):

    N/A

    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.

    Partners: Public Services Health and Safety Association, St. Lawrence College, Brockville; Northern College, Timmins; Sault College, Sault Ste. Marie

  • Logo for the Diesel Particulate Project

    Yes

    FEATURED

    Diesel Particulate Project

    Researchers:

    Dr. Sandra Dorman, Dr. Andrew Zarnke, George Flagler, Megan Wickie

    Full Description

    Partner(s):

    United Steelworkers Local 6500(https://uswlocals.org/usw-local-6500), OHCOW(https://www.ohcow.on.ca)

    Associated paper(s):

    N/A

    Associated resource(s):

    Diesel Particulate Project Infographic(https://crosh.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DPP-Infographic-v4.pdf), Diesel Particulate Project Brochure(https://crosh.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DPP-Brochure-v8.pdf), Diesel Particulate Project One-Pager(https://crosh.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DPP-One-Pager-v5.pdf)

    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.

    Resources: Diesel Particulate Project Infographic, Diesel Particulate Project Brochure, Diesel Particulate Project One-Pager

    Logo of United Steelworkers
    Logo of Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers
  • Researcher standing next to a physiological monitoring equipement and a research participant lying on a cot, hooked up to tubes and measuring devices

    Yes

    FEATURED

    Does diphenhydramine impair evaporative heat loss during physical activity in temperature conditions?

    Researchers:

    Dr. Nicholas Ravanelli, Dougie Newhouse

    Full Description

    Partner(s):

    Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

    Associated paper(s):

    N/A

    Associated resource(s):

    N/A

    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.

  • Close up view of mining rubber boots on a metal surface with a rock wall in the background

    Yes

    FEATURED

    Foot-Transmitted Vibration

    Researchers:

    Dr. Katie Goggins, Dr. Marco Tarabini, Dr. Brent Lievers, Dr. Tammy Eger

    Full Description

    Partner(s):

    Mechanical Engineering Department at Polimi University, Lecco, Italy

    Associated paper(s):

    N/A

    Associated resource(s):

    N/A

    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).

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