Ontario funds research on heat stress

University of Ottawa project to consider impact of age in hot environments

Ontario is helping the University of Ottawa carry out research on how age or disease could affect a person's ability to work in a hot environment for long periods at a time. 

Nathalie Des Rosiers, MPP for Ottawa-Vanier, made the announcement on Friday at the university on behalf of Kevin Flynn, minister of labour.

“Reducing workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities is a top priority for our government, and we’ve made great strides by reducing workplace injuries more than 50 per cent since 2003,” said Flynn in a statement. “But there’s still more work to do, so we’re investing in new research projects that, over time, will deliver significant benefits to employers and workers.”

This initiative is part of Ontario's Research Opportunities Program, which supports projects that will improve occupational health and safety for workers across the province, and help create better workplaces for all Ontarians. Each year the province funds Ontario universities, health care organizations and research institutes to study topics relating to occupational health and safety. 

These research findings can help develop appropriate interventions to prevent injuries and illness or inform changes to legislation to improve workplace safety.

Ontario is investing $299,452 for this project, which is part of the province’s $1.7 million Research Opportunities Program. This year, Ontario is supporting nine research projects across the province.

“We’re pleased to receive the government of Ontario’s support for vital research on worker exposure to heat stress. This type of collaboration paves the way to developing informed and effective policies that can make a real difference in protecting the health and safety of workers in this province,” said Sylvain Charbonneau, interim vice-president of research at University of Ottawa.