Activating Knowledge for Workplace Mental Health
SESSION THREE
Activating Knowledge: WMH Research Initiatives
May 15, 2024
10:30am - 12:00pm ET
Evidence-Informed Workplace Policies & Practices for PTSI Disability Prevention
The prevalence of post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSIs) among first responders is high and often leads to work disability. Recent studies have shown that organizational policies and practices have an important impact; however, the scientific evidence about the effectiveness of interventions is limited. Regardless, first responder organizations must develop ways to protect workers. Learn about this project to engage with Alberta first responder stakeholders to co-develop an evidence summary on current, best and effective interventions to manage and prevent PTSIs, to ensure the findings are relevant, and to increase the uptake of this knowledge in Alberta.
Speakers: Emile Tompa, MBA, PhD, Executive Director, IDEA,Director, CRWDP,Associate Professor, McMaster University,Senior Scientist, Institute for Work & Health; Emma Irvin, Director, Research Operations, Institute for Work & Health
Understanding Work-Related Suicide
Join Dr. Bittle for an update on his research, which includes analysing WCB appeals on work-related suicide and continuing analysis of the 2023 Work-Related Suicide Survey, whose purpose is to examine how to define the phenomenon, its causes and consequences, relevant laws and polices, and current and recommended prevention strategies. The goal is to better understand the nature and scope of work-related suicide and related response and prevention measures.
Speaker: Dr. Steven Bittle, Professor, Department of Criminology, University of Ottawa
NOWW IS THE TIME: Northwestern Ontario Workplace & Worker Health Cohort Study (NOWWHS)
Learn about (and participate in) the largest cohort study ever conducted in Northwestern Ontario which examines workplace factors for health and wellbeing in the workplace. It is being conducted by the EPID@Work (Enhancing the Prevention of Injury and Disability at Work) Research Institute at Lakehead University
Speaker: Dr. Vicki Kristmann, Professor, Lakehead University; ON Research Chair in Injury & Disability Management; Director & Senior Scientist, EPID@Work Research Institute
SESSION FOUR
4. Considering Key Issues: Violence, Pain & Surveys
May 22, 2024
10:30am - 12:00pm ET
Violence & Harassment + Opioid Harm are key workplace issues and therefore targets of Ontario's Prevention Works Program + Survey success
Workplace Violence Risk Assessments – New and Improved Tools
The MLITSD Prevention Works Committee focusing on work-related mental harms and workplace violence and harassment has decided that a new tool is required to effectively support Ontario workplaces to assess the risk of violence. With a focus on small businesses, WSPS is taking the lead to develop a user-friendly tool that will help meet legislative requirements and decrease harms associated with violence at work. During this interactive session, you will be given the opportunity to share what you would like to see included in this tool and what’s coming down the pipeline.
Speaker: Kristy Cork, CRSP, Specialized Consultant – Healthy Workplaces, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS)
Pain/Management role in Opioid Harm Reduction Program
Did you know the WHO recognizes chronic pain as a disease of it’s own? However, many people still believe in the “suck it up” approach, relying upon self-treatment or self-medication, which we know is problematic, -- in particular if illicit drugs like opioids are involved. Chronic pain can be difficult to control and some days can be better than others. Good pain management supports at the workplace help workers manage their situation to not just function at work, but to also avoid the all too common trap of seeking illicit market opioids to “cope”. Learn how opioids, chronic pain and pain management intersect when addressing opioid related harms and workplace accommodations.
Speaker: Kathy Martin, Coordinator, Research, Stakeholder & Public Relations, Mental Health and Wellness Specialist, Infrastructure Health & Safety Association (IHSA)
How important is it to use a “valid” questionnaire to measure workplace stress?
In the HR field there are all kinds of surveys available to workplaces – surveys that claim to measure engagement, job satisfaction, workplace culture, burnout, etc. Very few of authors of these commercially available surveys have published any evidence regarding their validity and reliability of their instruments. There are also disagreements about the need to establish the validity of questionnaires: some saying its “overkill”. What does it mean to use a “valid” questionnaire? This session will review these questions and explore the implications for the use of surveys in the workplace.
Speaker: John Oudyk, MSc, CIH, ROH, Occupational Hygienist, OHCOW
SESSION FIVE
5. Activating Knowledge: Tools & Services
May 29, 2024
10:30am -12:00 pm ET
Building new, innovative and practical solutions for workers and workplaces is a key goal of the Ontario Prevention System. Learn & begin!
A new tool to assess job-based risk of psychological harm
Introducing the Occupational Psychological Risk Assessment Tool – a collaborative solution for assessing risk of psychological harm on the job. The OPRA is an innovative, web-based tool that uses a shared, participatory approach to review job factors that impact worker mental health, rate subjective risk of psychological harm, and collectively identify solutions to support worker wellbeing. Participants will:
- Review the mental health continuum and job-based psychological harm
- Learn how job factors can impact worker mental health
- Explore a new tool to assess and control risk of psychological harm on the job
Speaker: Tegan Slot, Manager, Workplace Wellbeing, Public Services Health & Safety Association (PSHSA)
A new tool to assess Workplace Violence in the Education Sector
Introducing the Workplace Violence Risk Assessment (WVRA) Tool for the K-12 Education Sector. The WVRA is an innovative, solution that was created by educators, administrators and OHS professionals for their environment. The tool uses a shared, participatory approach to review job conditions where workers may experience violence, assess the risk, and discuss mitigation strategies that are applicable to their environment. Participants will:
- Learn how the Workplace Violence risk assessment was developed.
- Learn how the WVRA tool is to be utilized.
- Next steps for the WVRA tool to be integrated into the education sector.
Speaker: Chris Arsenault, Director, Health, Safety & Wellbeing, Education and Specialized Services, Public Services Health & Safety Association (PSHSA)
JobAssess - accurately and efficiently capture the 4 critical domains of any job.
Introducing OHCOW’s new online Job Demands Analysis Tool in the context of a real workplace, with a focus on capturing cognitive, emotional and environmental demands which impact mental as well as physical health. The tool can be accessed by phone, tablet, or computer to assess a job in real time. Users can download the results for their own use, or create a database account to save, build from and compare numerous assessments - a valuable prevention tool for workplaces of any size.
Speaker: Daryl Stephenson – Ergonomist - OHCOW Hamilton
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