The Chair in Corporate Occupational Health and Safety Management at Université Laval is a research structure that includes researchers, companies and graduate students, all striving to achieve a common goal, that is, to develop and improve prevention and occupational health and safety management.

The Chair is also a training centre for students at the undergraduate and graduate levels and post-doctoral fellows. Moreover, it offers training courses for OHS managers.

To contribute to the development of knowledge and practices related to occupational health and safety management and to promote the integration of prevention into the management of organizations.

Three major research issues are explored.

Diversity of contexts

OHS exists in diverse contexts, in terms of economic sectors, organizations and populations of workers. The following are examples of projects included in this research area:

• Analysis of the conditions that explain the application or non-application of preventive measures in the construction sector.
• Development of a self-diagnosis grid for OHS management in small companies.

Emerging issues

Ongoing economic and social changes are affecting individuals and organizations. The dynamics in the work environment are also affected by these changes, which have given rise to new OHS issues. Chair members are conducting the following projects in this research area:

• Study of the organizational dimensions that may help to prevent work-related mental health problems.
• Study of organizational dimensions that may help to prevent violence in the workplace.
• Study of the issue of return to work after violent events.
• Inventory of various practices related to employee recognition in the workplace and conditions for their implementation.
  

Approaches to and means of prevention

This third research area seeks to better understand and develop approaches to and means of prevention (primary, secondary and tertiary) of occupational injuries. The following projects deal with this issue:

• Study of the way external interventions (ASP consultants) are integrated into the dynamic of prevention in organizations.
• Integration of

Individuals or companies who so wish can become a member of the Chair in Occupational Health and Safety Management. Members enjoy various privileges, depending on the case.

Privileges offered to company members

Adhering to the principle of partnership, the Chair is intended to support managers and employees in occupational health and safety management.

• Research
  Companies interested in developing and carrying out research projects will benefit from recognized expertise in the OHS field.
• Knowledge transfer...
  Company members have access to numerous activities aimed at the transfer of theoretical and practical knowledge.
• Networking...
  Company members can participate in activities that promote discussion and sharing of knowledge between managers and with researchers.

Privileges offered to researcher members

• Research and networking...
  Researchers who are regular or associate members of the Chair are invited to participate in activities organized by the Chair to promote research. They also benefit from the special relationship between the Chair and company members.

Privileges offered to student members

Research and networking...

Student members benefit from supervision provided by professor-researchers recognized for their expertise in occupational health and safety and ergonomics. They are also invited to participate in activities to promote research.

Action research

This type of research is centred on the transfer,

appropriation and application of research results by organizations and their members.

Graduate studies

The Chair in Occupational Health and Safety Management offers a master's program leading to an MBA in OHS Management. This 45-credit program consists of courses in administration and OHS, including an internship in a company.

Further training

In addition to university training, the Chair offers various activities that allow OHS specialists to develop their knowledge: training sessions on particular topics, public talks and conferences.