Dr. Lynda Robson
Scientist
PhD, Biochemistry, University of Toronto
Staff email
Staff extension
416-927-2027 ext. 2164
Dr. Lynda Robson is a scientist at the Institute for Work & Health, where she has worked since 1997. She is an adjunct professor in the School of Occupational and Public Health at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is also a member of the Canadian Standards Association Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (Z45001) Technical Committee.
Robson obtained her PhD in biochemistry from the University of Toronto, but later changed fields through additional education at the university's former Graduate Department of Community Health.
Robson's research uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to study occupational health and safety (OHS) management, organizational change in OHS and the evaluation of prevention programs, especially OHS training programs.
“The lab research in which I was involved, though ultimately intended to benefit people, was in itself lacking in the social/human dimension. Now, I often study people and their organizations, and more often interact with users of the research, and I find that personally rewarding." – Dr. Lynda Robson
Projects
- Ontario Leading Indicators Project. Completed.
- Effectiveness of training and education for the protection of workers: a systematic review. Completed. (PI on the project)
- Occupational health and safety management audit instruments: a literature review. Funded by Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario. Completed. (PI on the project)
- Effectiveness of occupational health and safety management systems: a systematic review. Completed.
- Evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of Ontario’s working-at-heights training standard. Funded by Ontario Ministry of Labour. Completed. (PI on the project)
Publications
- Van Eerd D, Robson LS, Yanar B, Irvin E, Le Pouésard M, Rafiqzad H. Early occupational health and safety interventions for small businesses: an environmental scan. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2025 epub ahead of print. doi:10.1002/ajim.70046.
- Robson LS, Chen C, Mustard C, Shahidi FV, Landsman V, Smith PM, Biswas A. Differences in the effectiveness of three OHS training delivery methods. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2025;68(5):450-463. doi:10.1002/ajim.23719.
- Yanar B, Mustard C, Hossain S, Robson LS, Begum M. Participation in the Health and Safety Excellence Small Business Program: Understanding small business motivations and needs. Institute for Work & Health; 2024.
- Shahidi FV, Liao Q, Landsman V, Mustard C, Robson LS, Biswas A, Smith PM. Is precarious employment an occupational hazard? Evidence from Ontario, Canada. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2024;81(8):381-387. doi:10.1136/oemed-2024-109535.
- Shahidi FV, Liao Q, Landsman V, Mustard C, Robson LS, Biswas A, Smith PM. Precarious employment and the workplace transmission of COVID-19: evidence from workers' compensation claims in Ontario, Canada. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. 2024;78(11):675-681. doi:10.1136/jech-2024-222373.
Speaker Series presentations
- Is in-person training more effective than online training? Findings from a study of Ontario workers. IWH Speaker Series. September 19, 2023.
- Preventing falls from heights in construction: a long-term evaluation of Ontario's working-at-heights training standard. IWH Speaker Series. December 13, 2022.
- The union effect on safety in the ICI construction sector: a study update. IWH Speaker Series. January 12, 2021.
- Evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of Ontario’s working-at-heights training standards. IWH Speaker Series. February 26, 2019.
- Managing safety and operations: The effect of joint management system practices on safety and operational outcomes. IWH Speaker Series. November 8, 2016.
Research summaries
- Evidence-based questionnaire helps JHSCs pinpoint strengths, weaknesses. At Work article: Institute for Work & Health, August 2015.
- Success stories offer new guidance to organizations on path of OHS change . At Work article: Institute for Work & Health, November 2014.
- OHS champion has pivotal role in breakthrough change: study. At Work article: Institute for Work & Health, May 2014.
- Breakthrough change: Finding and describing firms that make large OHS improvements. At Work article: Institute for Work & Health, October 2012.
- Training promotes safer practices. At Work article: Institute for Work & Health, July 2012.
Media coverage
- Making the business case for safety: Don't sacrifice safety for operations. OHS Insider: Bongarde Media (Penticton, BC). September 17, 2016. Available from: https://ohsinsider.com/insider-top-stories/making-business-case-safety-dont-sacrifice-safety-operations
- Managing your OHS program: A case study on breakthrough changes in safety. OHS Insider: Bongarde Media (Penticton, BC). April 20, 2016. Available from: https://ohsinsider.com/insider-top-stories/managing-ohs-program-case-study-breakthrough-changes-safety
- New IWH study looks at why companies make big improvements. OHS Insider: Bongarde Media (Penticton, BC). March 23, 2016. Available from: https://ohsinsider.com/search-by-index/safety-programs/new-iwh-study-looks-at-why-companies-make-big-ohs-improvements
- External influences motivate firms to improve OHS performance. Canadian Occupational Safety Newswire: Thomson Reuters Canada (Toronto, ON). March 17, 2016. Available from: http://www.cos-mag.com/safety/safety-stories/4969-external-influences-motivate-firms-to-improve-ohs-performance-study.html
- External factors influence improvements in workplace safety performance: IWH study. Canadian Chiropractor: Annex Business Media (Simcoe, ON). March 14, 2016. Available from: http://www.canadianchiropractor.ca/programs/external-factors-influence-improvements-in-workplace-safety-performance-iwh-study-4342