Dr. F. Curtis Breslin

Scientist

PhD, Clinical Psychology, Rutgers University

Dr. F. Curtis Breslin became interested in research while studying psychology in the United States. “It’s fascinating to me to find out why we behave the way we do in certain situations,” says Dr. Breslin. “I think that’s where and how the idea of research captured my imagination.”

Since joining the Institute in 2001, Dr. Breslin has researched the risks of injury among young workers. One of his study findings in particular has had an impact on workplace policies across Canada: the fact that workers who are new to a job are five times more likely to be injured in the first month. For instance, the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board launched a social marketing campaign around this message and the Industrial Accident Prevention Association developed a tool based on this research.

“It is very rewarding when my research results have an influence on policy,” notes Dr. Breslin, who is also an adjunct associate professor with the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Breslin’s work on the relation between job tenure and work injuries found that workers who are new to a job are five times more likely to be injured within the first month. This finding had a major impact on workplace policies across Canada. The former Industrial Accident Prevention Association (now part of Workplace Safety & Prevention Services) produced First 4 Weeks Health & Safety Orientation and Training, which came out shortly after the initial dissemination of Dr. Breslin’s research findings.

Dr. Breslin's current research interests include the causes and consequences of work injuries among youth and geographic variation in work injuries among all workers.