Charles Gagne: Establishing drivers to facilitate Knowledge translation in the OHS research environment Presentation at the Canadian Knowledge Mobilization Forum 2012, Ottawa, Ontario, http://www.kmbforum2012.org/

1. Establishing drivers to facilitate
Knowledge translation in the OHS
research environment
Charles Gagné and Louis Lazure, IRSST
Canadian Knowledge Mobilization Forum 2012
19-20 June 2012

2. About IRSST
IRSST - Québec Health and Safety Research Institute
Founded in 1980
 Private non-profit organization that conducts and funds research
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Mission
 To contribute, through research, to the prevention of industrial
www.irsst.qc.ca
accidents and occupational diseases, and to the rehabilitation of
affected workers
 To disseminate knowledge and serve as a scientific and expert
centre.
 To provide laboratory services and expertise required to support
the public occupational health and safety prevention network.

3. Scientific context
 4 prioritary research fields
 Chemical and Biological Hazards Prevention
 Sustainable Prevention and Work Environment
 Mechanical and Physical Risk Prevention
 Occupational Rehabilitation
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www.irsst.qc.ca
 More than 170 research projects under realization annually
 Mainly applied research studies
 Scientific evaluation of research protocols and research reports
 Multidisciplinary research environment (engineers, chemists,
ergonomists, anthropologists)

4. KT as an organizational priority
Strategic repositioning in 2006
 Major orientation : Systematic integration of knowledge
translation and result promotion into all research and expertise
activities
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 Creation of the Knowledge transfer and partner relations
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department
 Emphasis placed on the transfer of knowledge, dissemination of
research results to the working community and their appropriation
by the users with the help of stakeholders acting as intermediaries
 Optimization of result translation and promotion activities - KT
Advisor assigned to each research field
 Development of the framework of practice by KT Advisors that
identifies the contribution of the KTA and the type of KT activities to
be implemented

5. Efficient knowledge translation – literature review
 The following conditions must exist in order to achieve an
efficient knowledge translation
 Personal contacts must be established between researchers and
stakeholders/end-users
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 The stakeholders (SHs) must be continuously involved throughout the
research process
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 The research results must be made available to the SHs at the
appropriate time to ensure their use
 The results must be relevant and applicable to facilitate their actual
appropriation by workplaces
 The stakeholders/end-users must collaborate with the researchers to
adapt and implement the research results
 The involvement of a “champion” in the sector facilitated interactions
between the research team and the SHs

6. 6
www.irsst.qc.ca
www.irsst.qc.ca/en/organizational-priority.html

7. Development and maintenance of social
networks around OHS’ priorities
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8. 193 organizations involved in follow-up committees
3% 9% OHS professionals (18)
10%
9% Employer associations (18)
Professional orders and associations (18)
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9%
Labour organizations (21)
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Private enterprises (31)
32%
11% IRSST (1)
Public organizations -mainly ministries, sector-based
committees, health services, educational establishments (62)
16%
1% Universities and research centres (19)
Others (5)

9. Phase 1: Anchoring in the stakeholders’
needs and realities 9
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10. Phase 2: Research 10
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11. 11
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Phase 3: Knowledge translation

12. KT activities
 One-day conferences
 Material handling
 Lift truck safety
 Seminars and symposiums
 Mental Health at Work
 Evaluation and reduction of vibration risk
 Technical fact sheets and guidelines
 Asthma 12
 Lock out procedure
 Machine safety
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 Bioaerosols
 Well-being at work
 Videos
 Research result translation committee
 Presentation of research findings to SHs in a perspective of knowledge translation
 Identification of additional KT activities
 Use of existing SH' mechanisms (already produced, recognized and used in workplaces)
 Influence public policies

13. Phase 4: Evaluation of impacts
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14. The drivers to be implemented to ensure Knowledge
translation in OHS research environment
1.The strong engagement and the support from the funding organization are
instrumental in the development and the implementation of a KT framework of
practice
2.To make available funding and resources for researchers
3.The active implication of the KT Advisor in all research team activities 14
4.The Knowledge Transfer Advisor can develop and maintain the stakeholders’
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network for the researcher’ team
 Dynamic, continuous participation and involvement of stakeholders throughout the
research process have proven to be very efficient.
5.The establishment of follow-up committees (193 organizations involved )
6.The KT Advisor needs to find ways to measure/appreciate outcomes of KT
activities with stakeholders

15. Conclusion
 KT must not be limited to the dissemination of knowledge
only after the research project is completed
 SHs' implication avoid a “knowledge push” approach
 Use the mechanisms already produced, recognized and used 15
in their sector.
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16. Thank you
Charles Gagné
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Knowledge Translation Advisor
Knowledge Transfer and Partner Relations
www.irsst.qc.ca
gagne.charles@irsst.qc.ca