These research summaries, published by the Centre for Research Expertise in Occupational Disease between March and June 2023, look into the awareness of occupational disease, collection and use of occupational information in clinical settings, disease surveillance systems and workplace medical surve
Occupational skin diseases are one of the most common occupational diseases. Contact dermatitis is the most common occupational skin disease. The main types of contact dermatitis are irritant and allergic. In the diagnostic process, patch testing is often used to identify the causative allergen. Cli
The issue: The impact of hand-arm vibration syndrome on daily functioning and quality of life We know that workers exposed to hand-transmitted vibration can develop a chronic occupational disease termed hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). While our ability to diagnose HAVS has progressed well, littl
Work-related asthma (WRA) remains one of the most common occupational lung diseases, accounting for about 16 per cent of all adult-onset asthma. In some cases the onset is a new condition resulting from workplace exposures. In other cases, pre-existing asthma is worsened by these exposures. Cleaning
In 2016 the Ministry of Labour in Ontario recognized occupational disease as a priority for prevention. This decision resulted from years of research and knowledge generation along with the lobbying efforts of workers’ groups and occupational physicians and nurses in the province. Of specific conc
Preventing work-related skin disease: A qualitative study to identify characteristics of a desirable training program The Issue: Occupational skin disease (OSD) is one of the most common occupational diseases. Primary prevention is key to reducing exposures. Yet there is a gap in workplace training
Exposure to infectious bioaerosols in the workplace: understanding the risks to health care workers The issue: Talking and coughing during acute respiratory infections and health care procedures such as bronchoscopy can introduce infectious bioaerosols into the breathing space of others close by. Ae
Potential respiratory effect from 3D printers The Issue: More and more companies and consumers are adopting the use of 3D printers. Although these printers are known to emit ultrafine particles and volatile organic compounds, there is little available information regarding the health consequences o
Research agenda development agriculture-horticulture The issue Continued concerns about health and safety in agriculture and horticulture settings in Canada. An update In 2012 Agrivita and the Canadian Centre for Health and Safety In Agriculture hosted a national meeting of agriculture workers and
Testing the Joint Health and Safety Committee Assessment Tool in the Education Sector Joint health and safety committees (JHSCs) are worker-management advisory bodies that identify and help solve potential or existing workplace health and safety concerns. In Ontario, most workplaces with twenty o