The Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness & Performance (CISWP) is excited to unveil two new state-of-the-art research labs at Conestoga.
Two state-of-the-art research labs have opened at Conestoga's Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness & Performance (CISWP).
CISWP’s goal is to research and identify practical solutions to address Canada’s labour shortage by reducing workplace injuries and creating safer, more sustainable and inclusive workplaces. Equipped with cutting-edge technology, the laboratories will give the institute’s researchers the ability to collect a multitude of precise measurements of workers’ performance with a focus on injury prevention.
“Our institute is excited to launch our two new cutting-edge research labs,” said Amin Yazdani, executive director of CISWP. “These labs represent an unprecedented opportunity to transform work and health research and innovation in Canada by enabling applied research and utilizing field-to-lab-to-field research approach. Conestoga College is the only college in Canada’s college system with a research institute dedicated to work and health research. While hosted at Conestoga’s Skilled Trades Campus, these labs will enable us to develop and implement innovative strategies to enhance worker safety and well-being across various industries.”
The labs are named for their research mandate: START - Skilled Trades Applied Research and Training, and STRIDE - Skilled Trades Research in Inclusivity, Diversity, and Equity.
The START lab’s equipment can measure multiple dimensions of human performance related to injury risk and will allow CISWP researchers to conduct studies to understand the cause of injuries and develop and evaluate targeted innovative solutions. It’s equipped with specialized biomechanical, neurocognitive, and physiological instruments and technologies.
The portable measurement equipment and wearable sensors are also taken into the field to study workers on the job and they are integral to the institute’s research. Field measurements give a realistic view of the worker’s tasks, and the lab allows a more controlled setting, and the knowledge gained is then taken back into the field to put into action.
“Our field equipment enables us to conduct ecologically valid research with actual workers on their worksites as they perform their actual work tasks,” said Marcus Yung, CISWP’s development and operations director. “CISWP combines the control and reliability of laboratory research with the realism of the field, contributing to a scientifically rigorous field-to-lab-to-field approach.”
The STRIDE lab consists of state-of-the-art anthropometric equipment - the only of its kind in Canada - that will be used to develop comprehensive databases to support the inclusive design of equipment, tools, and personal protective equipment for the diverse Canadian skilled trades workforce. It features a state-of-the-art 4D body scanner system and optical 3D foot scanner systems that generate precise and reproducible calculations of body dimensions.
“Manufacturers currently rely on outdated information that doesn’t reflect the Canadian population,” said Nicki Islic, associate director of strategic initiatives and stakeholder engagement. “We are working with an ecosystem of industry partners, students, and other stakeholders to create a database that’s more representative and realistic and will inform the creation of well-designed equipment and tools for a diverse workforce.”
CISWP is committed to building productive and sustainable workplaces through a collaborative and transdisciplinary approach. CISWP’s goal is to position Canada as a global leader in empowering businesses to adapt and thrive in a competitive economy by improving the safety, wellness and performance of the Canadian workforce through knowledge generation, research transfer, and workforce development.
“CISWP’s new labs and equipment will help to advance the innovative applied research of the institute that directly impacts the health and safety of Canadian workers,” said Kevin Flynn, former Ontario Minister of Labour and chair of the stakeholder advisory committee.
Working closely with stakeholders, the institute strives to conduct cutting-edge research and develop evidence-informed products, tools, and services to advance their capacity and address knowledge gaps.
CISWP will be hosting a grand opening of these labs on October 15 at their Skilled Trades Safety Fair 2024, with local and provincial dignitaries expected to attend. The event will also feature keynote speakers, lab tours, exhibitors, and refreshments. Register for the event online.
For more information on the START and STRIDE labs, visit CISWP’s YouTube page.