OHCOW

Youth Mental Health in the Community and at Work
2023-05-17 13:30 - 15:00 (America/Toronto)
Young workers have recognized vulnerabilities to workplace injuries & harms, including to psychosocial risk factors, made worse in the pandemic.
Learn more about challenges faced by these frequently exposed front-line staff in their daily jobs, and some solutions to reduce risk and mitigate harm from an agency, industry and advocacy perspective.
Agenda:

Introduction and Welcome, Melissa Statham, Ergonomist, OHCOW
Youth Mental Health Outreach/Support, challenges and solutions, Ashleigh Erdelyan MSW RSW, Zahra Abou Elhassan MSW RSW, Youth Wellness Hub, CMHA-Windsor Essex
Essential Public Services, Essential Workers’ Health: Union-based Initiatives to Protect the Mental Health of Young Public Transport Workers

Introduction and Canadian context for the International Project and Report, Shirly Yan, Occupational Hygienist, OHCOW
On the ground: Young Worker advocacy and support, Krista Lee Hanson, President, Unifor Road Transport Council

Register here.

COPSOQ Joint Session - Research into Practice
2023-05-10 09:30 - 15:30
A unique opportunity to look at the international use and impact of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire, an important workplace mental health/stress prevention survey tool
OHCOW is hosting the biannual COPSOQ (Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire) Network meeting in Hamilton on May 11 & 12 which will discuss the technicalities of the survey and its use around the world. We have deliberately scheduled it in May to intersect with our annual Mayday, Mayday Symposium on Workplace Mental Health and Injury Prevention. Research into Practice is a combined event including our regular audience of worker activists and advocates, Workers Compensation and OHS professionals, regulators, and researchers as well as others interested in the COPSOQ from around the world. This is one of three virtual sessions as a complement to the full-day, in-person* Joint COPSOQ & OHCOW Network Meeting in Hamilton, ON.
Agenda:
9:30 – 11:00 am
A. Canadian Survey Results and Trends
Agenda:

Canadian National Survey Results & Trends: How Stressed are We?
The Big Picture, Data Analysis, Details and Patterns, John Oudyk
The Current Story – Qualitative Comments, Daryl Stephenson
Finding trends – Comparing 2016, 2019 and Today, John Oudyk
Discussion, All

Register for session A
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
B. Survey Use and Challenges in Canada
Agenda:

StressAssess Success Stories
Short “Pulse” survey experience
Logistic and Cultural Challenges from Manitoba perspective

2:00 – 3:30 pm
Register for session B
C. Workplace Mental Health Survey Use Around the World
Agenda:

New US Healthy Worker Survey Update, Dr. Marnie Dobson,
International Survey Highlights, COPSOQ Network Panel
Discussion: Use of WMH Surveys given existential risks like war, disease and climate change?, All

Register for session C

Opioid Addiction and Impairment Prevention
2023-05-03 13:30 - 15:00
Session 1 of 2023 Mayday, Mayday symposium
A current concern in many workplaces and a Provincial OHS priority. Learn about the complexity of factors involved, plus resources to help.
Agenda:

Opioid and substance misuse in the Building Trades. A strategy to deal with an epidemic. Carmine Tiano, MA, Director of Occupational Services, Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario
Opioid-harms among Ontario Workers, what we know and are striving to learn. Dr. Nancy Carnide, PhD, Associate Scientist, Institute for Work and Health
Re-examining management of substance use impairment in workplaces – Moving the “dial” from zero tolerance to harm reduction and support. Kathy Martin, Coordinator, Research, Stakeholder & Public Relations, Mental Health and Wellness Specialist, Infrastructure Health and Safety Association

Register at Eventbrite

Unequal Toll: Finding Worker Deaths for Prevention
2023-04-28 13:30 - 15:00
Marking Canada’s National Day of Mourning to remember and learn from workers who have suffered work-related disability, disease and death
Join our guest speaker and OHCOW host as they discuss what we know and don’t know about pandemic-related worker deaths and long-term illness/disability, and especially how we can use this information to recognize, assess and control infectious airborne virus risks in our workplaces today and tomorrow.
Guest Speaker: Nora Loreto, TBD
She will be hosted by Valerie Wolfe, Executive Director of the South Central Region and Migrant Worker Projects at OHCOW.
Register today to join the conversation!

Air Quality Synergizes Public & Occupational Health
2023-04-21 13:30 - 14:30
Whether a public place, a school or office, clean indoor air is a crucial factor in preventing disease transmission! Community and workplace COVID risk is shared and reciprocal – multi-layered strategies benefit everyone everywhere.
Join Dr.Thomas Piggott in this online event as he lays out the case for continued attention to, and prevention of, COVID-19 (and other airborne viral illnesses), as well as the multiple ongoing health benefits of clean indoor air.
He will be hosted by Krista Thompson, Occupational Hygienist in OHCOW’s Southwest Region.
Register today!

Spring into ACTion: Health and Safety Forum
2023-04-14 09:00 - 12:00
Informative, Effective, Relevant
Speakers/Info Sessions:
Temporary Foreign Workers Eastern Ontario Project
Eduardo Huesca & Leonor Cedillo, OHCOW
Long COVID- Medical and Worker’s Compensation Implications
Dr. Pravesh Jugnundan, OHCOW & Margaret Keyes, OWA
BREATHING CLEANER AIR is as important as drinking clean water – what can we do?
Kevin Hedges, Hygienist, OHCOW
A free virtual event in partnership with the Ottawa & District Labour Council
More info and Register here

Occ-Covid Webinar: 3 Years, Still Counting
2023-03-31 13:30 - 15:30
Join the conversation with our special return guest, Dr. Tara Moriarty. She has been busy amassing and assessing multiple datasets to launch the valuable predictive tool Canada Covid Hazard Index and is now able to share how it maps to incidence, severity and death data. Plus she will offer an update on her previous talk: Reality Check: Excess and “Missing” Deaths, and Their Implications for Prevention
Guest Speaker: Dr. Tara Moriarty, Department of Dentistry, University of Toronto
She will be hosted by John Oudyk, B.Eng, MHSC, ROH, CIH, Occupational Hygienist from the OHCOW Hamilton Clinic.

Sarcoidosis in Ontario Hard Rock Miners Webinar
2023-03-24 10:00 - 23:00
Occ-Disease Series

March 24th, 2023 10:00am – 11:00am

Occ Disease Case Series: Sarcoidosis in Ontario Hard Rock Miners
Clinical insights and exposure analysis of a series of sarcoidosis cases based on McIntyre Powder Project research and investigations.
Please join occupational medicine and lung disease specialist Dr. Christine Oliver, MD, MPH, MS, and OHCOW Occupational Hygienist Paul Sampara, MEng, ROH, to discuss and learn about Sarcoidosis and Ontario mining exposures.
They will be hosted by Andrew Zarnke, OHCOW Project Director.
Register here

Occ-COVID Conversation: Investigating Deaths & Outbreaks, an underused tool
2023-03-03 13:30 - 15:00
Apply Incident Cause Analysis Methods, a core OHS principle, to identify contributing process & system factors for Awareness and Prevention!
With the highly transmissible sub-variant XBB1.5 (“Kraken”) on the rise in Ontario, preventing exposure and transmission is more important than ever.
Whenever there is a critical injury or death it is really important to do a detailed incident investigation that incorporates identifying all contributing factors and root cause analysis. This is actually law in Ontario, but is seldom applied to occupational illness and disease.
More info and register here.

World Hearing Day
2023-03-03
World Hearing Day is an annual global advocacy event for raising awareness regarding hearing loss and promoting ear and hearing care, and calling for action to address hearing loss and related issues. Find information on the events, promotional, and educational materials for World Hearing Day, including a repository of translated materials. Find information from OHCOW and on the World Hearing Day website.

RSI Days Webinar Series
2023-02-28 10:00 - 12:00
Week FOUR of OHCOW’s informative 2023 webinar series on Repetitive Strain Injury.
Topic: Job Demands, Physical and Cognitive
More info, register and see other weeks topics here.

RSI Days Webinar Series
2023-02-21 10:00 - 12:00
Week THREE of OHCOW’s informative 2023 webinar series on Repetitive Strain Injury.
Session 1: Canadian Women and PPE in the workplace.
Session 2: OHCOW’s PPD Handbook.
More info, register and see other weeks topics here.

RSI Days Webinar Series
2023-02-14 10:00 - 12:00
Week TWO of OHCOW’s informative 2023 webinar series on Repetitive Strain Injury.
Session 1: Indoor Environment Quality at the Office.
Session 2: Ergonomics and Sleep.
More info, register and see other weeks topics here.

Silica Exposures, Part B
2023-02-13 16:00 - 18:30
Part B – what can we do to prevent the serious burden ofmorbidity and mortality from debilitating exposures, and what interventionsand advocacy will work?
From the Workplace Health Without Borders
The occupational medicine and public health communities are facing an increase of deadly lung diseases among workers exposed to silica dust in the countertop industry. Join us for a discussion with experts about ways to reduce risk. Hosted by David Goldsmith, WHWB and Kevin Hedges, OHCOW
REGISTER Here.

A 3 Year Check-up: Not "just the cold or flu"
2023-02-10 13:30 - 15:00
It has been a while since we checked in on the short, medium and long-term health consequences of SARS CoV-2 infections, and particularly their impact on workers and workplaces. Hear stories from a medical professional in the trenches of helping patients and co-workers, and in the process, let’s review what we have learned on ways to protect health, reduce transmission and mitigate harm.
We welcome our guest speaker Dr. Susan Kuo, M.D., CCFP, Clinical Associate Professor at UBC, 30 year family physician in Richmond, BC and member of Protect Our Province BC.
She will be hosted by Dr. Pravesh Jugnundan, MD, FCBOM, FACOEM, FCFP, CIME, MRO, DOH Family physician in York Region and Occupational Medicine consultant at OHCOW
Join an OHCOW Occupational Health MD and a BC Family doctor to understand the real ongoing impacts on health, healthcare and workplaces large & small.
Register today on Eventbrite.

RSI Day Webinar Series
2023-02-07 10:00 - 12:00
Week ONE of OHCOW’s informative 2023 webinar series on Repetitive Strain Injury.
Session 1: Shoulder injuries.
Session 2: Workplace concusions.
More info, register and see other weeks topics here.

World Cancer Day
2023-02-04 08:00 - 17:00
February 4 is an annual event raising awareness about cancer, and advocating for positive change in the prevention, treatment and management of cancer in Canada and worldwide.

Silica Exposure Webinar, Part A
2023-02-02 17:00 - 19:30
Part A – Artificial / engineered stone; how big is the problem?
From the Workplace Health Without Borders
For the last 10 years we have known about the risk of silicosis to workers who sand, grind, and cut engineered/artificial stone countertops. Join us for a discussion with experts about the risks. Hosted by David Goldsmith, WHWB and Kevin Hedges, OHCOW
REGISTER Here.

Dark Winter - Past Lessons to Inform Future Health
2023-01-27 15:00 - 16:30
We are excited to welcome highly respected and world-leading epidemiologist and biosecurity expert Dr. Raina MacIntyre, who literally “wrote the book” on pandemics and their prevention. She will share some highlights from her recent book, Dark Winter through the lens of the COVID pandemic, and participate in a dialogue on ways we can all make a difference in our workplaces and communities.
Dr. MacIntyre will be hosted by Dr. Kevin Hedges, Ph.D., CIH, COH, Occupational Hygienist at OHCOW
Register here.

CROSHCon 2023: Resetting the Dial on Workplace Climate
2023-01-20 08:30 - 15:30
From the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health. Behavioural Change expert and researcher Dr. Lisa Bélanger is the keynote speaker to open this day long virtual conference. Dr. Bélanger will speak to us about “Reimagining Work: The Skills, Habits, and Work Design to Improve Workplace Climate.” Expanding on this theme, CROSH researchers and students will then present on other workplace issues, including psychosocial hazards, environmental issues and the ongoing global pandemic.

Considerations for Workers at Greater Risk of Injury
2023-01-10 09:30 - 22:30
It is important for workplaces to develop strategies to ensure worker vulnerability is recognized and addressed in policies, training, signage, etc. in an attempt to prevent workplace injury and illness for all workers.
Presented by:
Cassandra Porpiglia,
Prevention Consultant, SAFE Work Manitoba
More info and register here.

Occ-COVID Conversations: Critical concepts in Ventilation & Viral Evolution
2022-12-16 13:00 - 15:00
A “double bill” on two important topics: Indoor air, public health & COVID-19 + The Science of Mutation: Variant Risk and Impact.
Join OHCOW staff, our expert guests and knowledgeable audience for another important educational event.
1. Indoor air, public health and COVID-19: gaps in public health guidance and a checklist for community spaces, Amy Katz, Knowledge Translation, MAP, Unity Health Toronto and Adjunct Professor, School of Cities, University of Toronto and Amy (Tianyuan) Li, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo; hosted by OHCOW Occupational Hygienist, Dr. Kevin Hedges
2. The Science of Mutation: Variant Risk and Impact — What’s new with the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, Dr. T. Ryan Gregory, Professor, Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph; hosted by OHCOW Executive Director, Valerie Wolfe
Register here.

Occ-COVID Conversations: Let's hear from the Engineers & stop the spread!
2022-12-09 13:30 - 15:00
Highlighting new OSPE evidence-based guidance, including virus transmission & respirator info, plus recommendations for safer air for all.
Guests include:
Joey Fox, P. Eng, MASc, HVAC Engineer and @O_S_P_E Indoor Air Quality Chair (@joeyfox85)
Marianne Levitsky, MES, CIH, ROH, FAIHA, founding President, Workplace Health Without Borders, Occupational Hygienist, ECOH Management Inc., adjunct lecturer, Dalla Lana School of Public Health (@mariannelev)
Stéphane Bilodeau, P.Eng., Ph.D., Fellow of Engineers Canada, Bioengineering Lecturer at McGill University, CTO at Smart Phases, and World Health Network IAQ Task Force Coordinator (@smbilodeau)
Register here.

Long COVID: Rehabilitation and Return to Work Considerations (Webinar)
2022-12-08 09:30 - 11:30
Presented by:Kerry St George BMR(PT) MClSc MT Physiotherapist (The Wellness Institute Clinic)Shelley Sargent BSC BMR(PT) MScManager of Clinical Services (The Wellness Institute)
‘Long COVID’ is a condition in which people continue to experience symptoms for more than 3 months after a COVID-19 infection. According to a recent survey done by the Public Health Agency of Canada, 14.8% of people go on to develop Long COVID after a COVID-19 infection. Of these people, approximately half (47%) experience symptoms for more than 1 year and 21% say their symptoms are often or always limiting their daily activities. 74% of these people have missed work due to their symptoms.
MORE INFO AND REGISTER HERE

Occ-tober webinar: Making it All Easier: Knowledge Mobilization & Tools
2022-11-24 13:00 - 15:00
The main focus will be the Silica Control Tool Pilot – the User Experience, an online risk assessment tool for the construction industry. The tool creates task-specific respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure estimates for controlled and uncontrolled common construction exposure scenarios.
Also: Reducing Risk: Chemical Management for Small Businesses & The Changing Workplace.
Register Today

Worker-Informed Science: Learning and Collaborating on Provincial, National and International Levels
2022-11-17 13:00 - 15:00
The first part of this webinar will feature a discussion between OHCOW and the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) exploring the dynamic relationships between workers’ personal health experiences, clinic-based disease/exposure investigations, and occupational health surveillance research. Then, the International Association of Firefighters, Health Canada, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer will address the occupational health journey of firefighters.
Register Today!

OCC-tober webinar: Occupational Exposures and Community Responses
2022-11-10 13:00 - 15:00
Toxic exposure to cytotoxin in the workplace is discussed. Speakers from the Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre who have been leaders in the Healthy Nail Salon Workers Project are guests for this webinar, focussing on the importance of building partnerships between community-based public health and occupational health entities for maximum impact. Dr. Hugh Davies, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Unifor Project, Long Term Care Cytotoxin Exposure Concerns, Cate Ahrens and Jackie Liang, Central Toronto Community Health Centres.
Register today!

Occ-tober Webinar Series: Diesel Exhaust Exposure – Influencing Change
2022-11-03 13:00 - 15:00
Diesel Engine Exhaust (DEE) is a cause of lung cancer for approximately 966,000 Canadians. Learn how workers and researchers are influencing change to reduce DEE exposures in Mining through the Diesel Particulate Project . Tool development and continuing analysis of additional data/evidence will also be discussed.
Speakers include:
Sean Staddon, WSIB Worker Representative, United Steelworkers Local 6500, Sandra Dorman, Director and Tobias Mankis, Science Communication Officer, Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health, Dr. Kevin Hedges, Occupational Hygienist, OHCOW.

Register

Lung Cancer Awareness Month
2022-11-01 08:00 - 17:00
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Canada for both men and women, with approximately 6,900 deaths expected in Ontario alone in 2014. When most people think about the causes of lung cancer, cigarette smoke is the only thing that comes to mind. While smoking is the main cause of lung cancer, there are also many other contributors that can cause lung cancer. These include things in the environment, such as outdoor air pollution and radon in homes, and occupational carcinogens, which are found in many workplaces.
More info.

November is Fall Prevention Month
2022-11-01 08:00 - 17:00
Fall Prevention Month encourages organizations to coordinate their efforts for a larger impact. Canadian organizations participate by planning initiatives and sharing evidence-based information on fall prevention. Together we can raise the profile of fall prevention and encourage everyone to see their role in preventing falls and fall-related injuries across the lifespan.
More info.
