Annual Report 2006 - wsib

There really are no accidents.
Research
Research Grants Program:
Solutions for Workplace
Change
The WSIB’s successful Research Grants Program: Solutions for Workplace Change
aims to fund research that leads to practical benefits for workers and employers in
workplaces across Ontario.
The WSIB’s Research Advisory Council (RAC) is made up of representatives from the
employer and worker communities, as well as members from the research community,
the Ontario Health and Safety Associations, the Ministry of Labour, the Institute
for Work & Health, and the WSIB. The RAC calls for research proposals and makes
recommendations for funding to the WSIB board of directors.
Tony Culyer, chair,
Research Advisory Council
2006 saw the funding of new projects to achieve this objective, as well as the completion
of studies whose findings can now be transferred to the users of research and,
ultimately, into workplaces across the province. The WSIB funded 22 new research
projects with a total value of almost $2.4 million. These newly funded projects include
an examination of work-related injuries among immigrant workers and a study of
airborne transmission of the influenza virus in health-care institutions. Nine WSIBfunded
research projects were completed in 2006. These included a study of lower-back
injuries and a study of injuries associated with the use of large mobile equipment.
Details of all funded and completed research projects are available on the Research
pages of the WSIB website.
Centres of Research
Expertise
In 2006, the WSIB continued to expand its successful Centres of Research Expertise
initiative. This initiative is producing valuable research results that will improve
health and safety in Ontario’s workplaces. It is also increasing the research community’s
capacity to develop innovative research proposals that will ultimately benefit
Ontario’s workers and employers.
In 2006, the Centre of Research Expertise in Improved Disability Outcomes
(CREIDO) was added to the two existing centres, Centre of Research Expertise in
the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD) and Centre of Research
Expertise in Occupational Diseases (CRE-OD), which were launched in 2004.
CREIDO addresses all aspects of return-to-work management practices. These
include treatment and rehabilitation, organization and design of work, workplace
insurance policies and practices, and other factors that may help or impede early and
safe return to work. Major funding for the centre is jointly provided by the WSIB
and University Health Network Rehabilitation Solutions. CREIDO will receive $2
million from the WSIB over a period of five years.
CREIDO is run by Dr. David Cassidy, research director of University Health Network
Rehabilitation Solutions, and is located at Toronto Western Hospital.
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WORKPLACE SAFETY AND INSURANCE BOARD Annual Report 2006