MONCTON and FREDERICTON, N.B. - More than $1.6 million in funding over the next four years will support a long-term research program that will examine the physical demands of caregiving and develop and evaluate solutions to improve caregiver and resident safety in New Brunswick's long-term care sector.
Led by kinesiology professors Dr. Michelle Cardoso, Associate Professor and Research Chair in Healthcare and Ergonomics at the Université de Moncton, and Dr. Wayne Albert, Full Professor at the University of New Brunswick, the initiative will bring together researchers, healthcare organizations, government, and industry partners to develop, evaluate, and implement evidence-based solutions aimed at reducing workplace injuries among caregivers in support of high-quality resident care.
The initiative is supported by more than $1.6 million in combined funding from WorkSafeNB, Mitacs, New Brunswick Continuing Care Safety Association (NBCCSA) and ResearchNB.
Healthcare workers experience some of the highest rates of work-related musculoskeletal injuries among all occupations in Canada. In New Brunswick's long-term care sector alone, previous research estimates that work-related musculoskeletal injuries cost approximately $8 million annually, contributing to lost work time, staffing pressures and increased demands on an already strained healthcare system.
The research program will take a comprehensive approach by identifying patterns and causes of workplace injuries, measuring the physical demands of caregiving, developing and testing interventions, and working with healthcare organizations to put research findings into practice.
The research program’s objectives include:
Rather than focusing on a single research project, the program establishes a long-term research platform that will identify emerging workplace challenges, evaluate innovative solutions, and build the evidence needed to support safer caregiving practices.
Over the next four years, the research team will undertake multiple research projects in the field of healthcare and ergonomics. Research will include resident handling, transfers, toileting, workplace injury surveillance, and the factors that advance or hinder the adoption of new solutions, equipment, and technologies. The findings will inform future workplace practices, guide innovation, and support evidence-based decision-making for healthcare organizations in New Brunswick and beyond.
The program will also help develop Canada’s next generation of healthcare researchers. Through Mitacs, the program will provide advanced research training to 23 undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers, giving them opportunities to work alongside healthcare organizations and industry partners to address real-world challenges facing Canada’s healthcare system.
Quotes
Dr. Michelle Cardoso
Research Chair in Healthcare and Ergonomics, Université de Moncton
"Healthcare workers dedicate their careers to caring for others, yet they continue to experience some of the highest rates of workplace injury in Canada. This research program allows us to work alongside our healthcare partners to develop practical, evidence-based solutions that improve worker safety while strengthening the quality of care delivered to residents. Our vision extends beyond individual projects. We are building a sustainable research program that will continue generating solutions for years to come."
Dr. Wayne Albert
Full Professor, University of New Brunswick
"This initiative brings together expertise in biomechanics, ergonomics, epidemiology, implementation science, and knowledge translation under a single collaborative program. It is critical that we continue working closely with healthcare organizations throughout the province and nationally, to move towards strategies and guidelines to ensure a safe working environment for healthcare workers and a safer environment for the people they care for."
Mitacs Representative
Anne Spence
Regional Director, Atlantic Canada
“Mitacs is proud to bring together researchers, industry, and community partners to address critical workplace health and safety issues. This collaborative ergonomics project highlights the power of applied research to deliver evidence-informed solutions that enhance health, safety, and well-being in workplaces across New Brunswick. We are pleased to support partnerships that accelerate innovation, connect research expertise with real-world needs, and creating meaningful and lasting benefits for workers, employers, and communities.”
WorkSafeNB Representative
Tim Petersen
President and CEO of WorkSafeNB
"Healthcare workers play an essential role in caring for New Brunswickers, and they deserve workplaces that protect their health and well-being. By supporting this research, WorkSafeNB is investing in efforts that will help identify practical solutions to reduce injuries and improve workplace safety, while also supporting high quality resident care. Partnerships like this are key to building safer workplaces and advancing our vision of making New Brunswick the safest place to work."
NBCCSA Representative
Denise Paradis
CEO – New Brunswick Continuing Care Safety Association
“The long-term care sector has invested significant time and effort into safety programs and resources over the years, but the reality is that injury rates remain too high. This research is an important opportunity to move beyond what we think works, but to ask new questions, examine the evidence, and identify what needs to change. For NBCCSA, understanding the realities of caregiving work, translates to changes to help reduce injuries, improve work-life balance, and support safer, healthier workplaces for the people who care for New Brunswick’s residents.”
ResearchNB Representative
Candice Pollack
CEO, ResearchNB:
"At ResearchNB, we invest in research with the greatest potential to improve lives and strengthen our province. We’re proud to support this collaborative initiative, which will generate practical evidence to help create safer workplaces for healthcare professionals, enhance resident care, and deliver lasting benefits for New Brunswickers."
About the Research Program
This Healthcare and Ergonomics Research Program is a collaboration between the Université de Moncton, the University of New Brunswick, Mitacs, WorkSafeNB, NBCCSA, and ResearchNB. The program integrates expertise in epidemiology, ergonomics, intervention research, and knowledge translation and exchange to develop, evaluate, and implement innovative strategies aimed at reducing workplace injuries among healthcare workers, supporting safer caregiving and, ultimately, higher-quality resident care.