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
- Champions as social agents of change: what can we learn from worker well-being initiatives?. Funded by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Ongoing.
- Construction union effect. Funded by Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD), Ontario Construction Secretariat. Ongoing. (PI on the project)
- Evaluating the effectiveness of distance learning in delivering Ontario's JHSC certification training. Funded by Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development. Ongoing. (PI on the project)
- Moving the needle on preventing workplace fatalities and critical incidents in Ontario through data linkage. Funded by Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). Ongoing.
- Occupational injury risks in Ontario. Funded by Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD). Ongoing.
Publications
- Van Eerd D, D'Elia T, Ferron EM, Robson LS, Amick B. Implementation of participatory organizational change in long term care to improve safety. Journal of Safety Research. 2021;78:9-18. doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2021.05.002.
- Robson LS, Irvin E, Padkapayeva K, Begum M, Zukowski M. Effectiveness of synchronous online learning in an occupational context: two rapid reviews. Institute for Work & Health; 2021.
- Robson LS, Landsman V, Latour-Villamil D, Lee H, Mustard C. Updating a study on the union effect on safety in the ICI construction sector. Institute for Work & Health; 2021.
- Robson LS, Lee H, Amick B, Landsman V, Smith PM, Mustard C. Preventing fall-from-height injuries in construction: effectiveness of a regulatory training standard. Journal of Safety Research. 2020;74:271-278. doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2020.06.007.
- Yanar B, Robson LS, Tonima S, Amick B. Understanding the organizational performance metric, an occupational health and safety management tool, through workplace case studies. International Journal of Workplace Health Management. 2020;13(2):117-138. doi:10.1108/IJWHM-09-2018-0126.
Speaker Series presentations
- A model of "breakthrough change" in workplace health and safety performance. IWH Speaker Series. May 13, 2014.
- A systematic review of the effectiveness of training and education for the protection of workers. IWH Speaker Series. March 9, 2010.
Research summaries
- Can an eight-item questionnaire pick up on real-world differences in OHS practice?. At Work article: Institute for Work & Health, February 2020.
- Ontario’s working-at-heights training led to safer practices, reduced injury claims rates. At Work article: Institute for Work & Health, April 2019.
- Employers that focus on both operations and safety don’t have to sacrifice either. At Work article: Institute for Work & Health, August 2016.
- OPM follow-up questions now available to help firms act on leading indicator scores. At Work article: Institute for Work & Health, April 2016.
- Workplaces that focus on both operations and safety can succeed at both. Research Highlights: Institute for Work & Health, January 2016.
Media coverage
- Ontario ministry could recommend changes to working-at-heights training. Canadian Occupational Safety . February 3, 2022. Available from: https://www.thesafetymag.com/ca/topics/safety-and-ppe/ontario-ministry-could-recommend-changes-to-working-at-heights-training/324259
- How does unionization make a difference with workplace safety?. Canadian HR Reporter. April 12, 2021. Available from: https://www.hrreporter.com/labour/news/how-does-unionization-make-a-difference-with-workplace-safety/354870
- How does unionization make a difference with workplace safety?. Canadian HR Reporter. April 12, 2021. Available from: https://www.hrreporter.com/labour/news/how-does-unionization-make-a-difference-with-workplace-safety/354870
- Regulated working at heights training works and needed: studies. Workers Health & Safety Centre. April 9, 2019. Available from: https://www.whsc.on.ca/What-s-new/News-Archive/Regulated-working-at-heights-training-works-i-and-i-needed-studies
- WAH training standards show 'significant' results: IWH. Daily Commercial News: ConstructConnect (Markham, ON). March 12, 2019. Available from: https://canada.constructconnect.com/dcn/news/labour/2019/03/wah-training-standards-show-significant-results-iwh