Institute Scientist Dr. Smith shares details about his new five-year research program into how sex and gender shape risk of work injury, time off work after a work injury, and the relationship between the work environment and chronic illnesses.
“Women make up nearly half of labour force participants, yet much of what we know about the relationship between working conditions and health is based on measures developed for men and frameworks tested in male-dominated workplaces,” says Smith. "By engaging with leading occupational health and safety stakeholders throughout the research process, this new research knowledge will help shape the development of gender- and sex-sensitive policies and practices to improve the health of all working Canadians.”
The program is being supported through the Institute of Gender and Health at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Smith is one of nine research chairs in gender, work and health.
Dr. Zena Sharman, assistant director of the Institute for Gender and Health at CIHR, opened the plenary with an overview of the gender, work and health funding program. Her opening remarks are available on the IWH YouTube channel.
You can learn more about IWH's research program in gender, work and health in this video, featuring Dr. Peter Smith, and on our website. Otherwise, his full presentation (a pdf of his slides only, or the full slidecast with audio) is available below.
