CROSH graduate student members are enrolled in a variety of programs, like Human Kinetics, Interdisciplinary Health, Nursing, Indigenous Relations, Engineering Science, Rural and Northern Health, Human Studies and Interdisciplinarity, Biomolecular Science, Materials Science, and more! You can learn how you can become a CROSH graduate student member here and about all of Laurentian University’s graduate programs here.
Project Description: Rebecca’s project cleaned and coded over 100,000 individual data points from incident reports provided from the mineral exploration field, to create a streamlined survey pool of incident data. A code catalogue that was novel to the industry was created to enhance the existing survey reports and provide consistency for future incident reporting and coding. From there, Leximancer Software was utilized to evaluate the existing survey database of over 6000 incident reports. In addition, a key objective was to compare safety theory methodologies and their relevance when applied to incidents within this field. The general framework within these theories will be compared on the basis of whether or not they add value to or support existing health and safety systems, and allow the researchers to identify where gaps may exist between the inherent OHS system and the incidents that are occurring. This analysis aimed to improve existing health and safety systems by identifying areas of importance, concern and the possibilities of how and why incidents occur. The methods proposed in this work included evaluating the general health and safety of mineral exploration based on the frequency and nature of risk factors identified in the incident reports. Summary materials will be produced to convey the findings to the industry using best practice for knowledge translation efforts.
Thesis Description: The focus of my research aims to strengthen the connections between human factors and HCI design of medical device interfaces and how their relationship possesses the power to influence how safely and comfortably a medical device can be interacted with. Exploring the current mental models nurse users refer to when interacting with familiar and novel medical devices can give important insight into how future, optimally designed user interfaces should be delineated and specifically what design factors should be taken into account. It is the aim of my research to further explore how the human factors ergonomics aspects of medical device user interface design, advances to user safety, efficiency, and general enjoyment of interacting with these devices are affected. An additional layer of complexity exists when considering healthcare workers situated in Northern Ontario areas who experience additional barriers and burdens in healthcare environments that permeate into the medical device design space.
Project Title: A Regional Review of Covid-19 Vaccination Rates and their impact in Ontario Occupational Settings
Project Description: This project has the goal to identify regional trends in vaccination rates in various occupational settings that will help in determining potential barriers due to vaccine rollout or vaccine confidence. These identified regional trends will help sectors identify vaccination and service delivery obstacles and hopefully generate further discussion and research on overall sector impact, delivery, sustainability, and worker absenteeism.
Description: I am examining digital news stories covering elite hockey athletes who are also mothers to examine what narratives are present in the mediation surrounding them, how these narratives influence their identity formation, and the psychosocial and cultural implications of such narratives. The sport media is a powerful tool in influencing our own and others perception of elite athletes, which has implications for their psychological wellbeing, as well as influences the cultural landscape of sports. Understanding how certain media narratives can be positive or negative to the psychological wellbeing of athlete mothers and the culture of sports can assist us in fostering a more supportive and inclusive hockey culture, which is a highly popular sport not only in Northern Ontario, but throughout North America.
Thesis Description: For my doctoral thesis, I am examining mental and physical health-related factors that could influence a return-to-work. The results of this research could be used to help inform the creation of an assessment that can predict a workers readiness for a successful return-to-work. Results from this study will also be used to assist with informing future health and wellness intervention strategies in the Northern Ontario mining industry.
Project Description: The status of various miner health-related issues, such as those involving asbestos, noise, lead, welding fumes, coal dust, silica dust, diesel particulate matter, and skin disorders, as well as research and other initiatives aimed at shielding miners from occupational illnesses and diseases.
Project Description: The purpose of my study was to describe the long-term effects of weight loss on resting metabolic rate (RMR). Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) is the number of calories body would burn in sleep and rest mode, and is roughly two-thirds of the daily calories burned. Changes in RMR may develop during caloric restriction and contribute to the inability of individuals who have lost weight to maintain their weight loss. Findings of this work allows researchers in Northern Ontario to understand how to better design weight health-promotion programs and better measure health indices in the workplace and have healthier working environment.
Thesis Description: Through this research we aim to better understand how McIntyre Powder exposure contributed to the development of cardiovascular diseases in Ontario mine workers. This can help us better understand how exposures to ultrafine particulates that are present in many Northern Ontario workplaces, such as diesel particulate matter, can cause cardiac and vascular diseases.
Thesis Description: The northern region is more reliant on public sector employment (including health care and public services (police, fire)), with other important economic bases coming from forestry and mining. Obesity and mental health are relevant problems in these workplaces, which include context-specific examination of contributors to health or safety issues. Compared with those of average body weight, persons with obesity are hired less frequently, get lower salaries and promotions, and are less satisfied with their employment, which can affect their mental health.
The aim of my project is to examine the effect of a prolonged educational weight loss program focusing on forming new nutritional and physical activity habits on physical and mental health and quality of life at the workplace.