Grants for research on worker health and safety
Now accepting applications for Professional Training Opportunities Program (PTOP) funding! See the Request for Applications for details. Applications due August 22, 2022.
The Professional Training Opportunities Program (PTOP) through the Northwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety offers small grants for research projects and activities that address worker health or safety.
Applicants are welcome from any discipline or field of study, including students earning associate’s degrees as well as undergraduate, graduate or post-doctorate degrees. Applications are also welcome from nonprofit staff and employees at organizations interested in developing expertise in occupational health and safety.
Grants of no more than $10,000 (including direct and indirect costs) will be made to support:
(1) A research project or demonstration.
(2) An internship or other learning experience.
(3) An activity or program.
All proposals must address health and/or safety issues in the workplace or for working populations.
2021-2022 Projects
Increasing High School Teachers Understanding of Pain, Substance Addiction, and Healthy Self-Care
Sol4ce
Awardee: Dr. Winston Kennedy
Mentor: Sharna Prasad
This project is a program evaluation of an intervention that aims to educate high school teachers in Oregon about self-managing pain, substance use, and in general their overall health. This project was created because of the high rates of drug abuse in Oregon, which has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reducing Burn Injuries Among Student Food Service Employees at Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Awardee: Pemika Kruearat
Mentor: Dr. Sarah Rothenberg
This project will investigate whether giving oven mitts to dining hall workers is associated with a lower rate of burns, compared to dining hall workers who only receive standard PPE.
Promoting Compassion Fatigue Resiliency in Animal Research Facilities The North American 3Rs Collaborative
The North American 3Rs Collaborative
Awardee: Megan LaFollette
Mentor: Dr. Sally Thompson-Iritani
Animal research personnel are an underserved population exposed to animal suffering, euthanasia, and social stigma whilst caring deeply for research animals - which can lead to workplace stress and compassion fatigue. This project will create an institutional compassion fatigue resiliency starter pack, pilot this program at 4 institutions, and quantify its effectiveness. The results of this project will be used to revise this program for its further distribution across North America to promote compassion fatigue resiliency in animal research facilities.
Experienced and Witnessed Sexual Harassment in the Restaurant Industry Portland State University
Portland State University
Awardee: Fernanda Wolburg Martinez
Mentor: Dr. Charlotte Fritz
This study aims to examine the impact of sexual harassment on female employees in a restaurant setting. Specifically, this study will explore: the changes in the mental health of food servers due to experienced or witnessed sexual harassment, how a supportive organizational climate can buffer the effects of sexual harassment on the server's mental health, and whether the coping strategies implemented as a response to harassment are effective in improving the employee's mental health.
Promoting On-Farm Dairy Safety Through Deployment of Worker Training Resources in Washington and Oregon
Washington State Dairy Federation
Awardees: Scott Dilley and Tami Kerr
Mentor: Dr. Elena Austin
Animal agriculture includes inherent safety risks, and the best way of approaching and mitigating for these risks is through proper employee training and awareness. Compensable claims data from L&I suggest room for improvement, especially for livestock-handling injuries, back and eye injuries, and slips and falls. Our objective is to launch a convenient, proven, on-farm training opportunity for dairy workers.
2020-2021 Projects
Sex Differences in Acute Pesticide Poisoning Among Agricultural Workers in the Pacific Northwest
Boise State University
Awardee: Meredith Spivak
Mentor: Dr. Cynthia Curl
This project will analyze sex-specific risks of occupational acute pesticide poisonings among agricultural workers in the Pacific Northwest. Specific aims: 1) to analyze and compare the incidence of acute pesticide poisonings for women and men working in agriculture in Oregon and Washington and analyze factors contributing to these exposures; 2) to summarize data on acute pesticide poisonings among women working in agriculture in Idaho; and 3) to gain knowledge and skills in occupational health and safety research.
Enhancing Vital Practice in a School of Nursing
University of Portland School of Nursing
Awardee: Amber Vermeesch
Mentor: Dr. Barb Braband
A Qualitative Analysis of Decision Making and Research Utilization Among Firefighters
Oregon Health & Science University
Awardee: Shelby Watkins
Mentor: Dr. Nicole Bowles
Seattle COVID-19 Oral History Project
University of Washington
Awardee: Wendi Zhou
Mentor: Dr. Kim England, Yasmin Ahmed
The Seattle COVID-19 Oral History Project (SCOHP) is a collaborative research project dedicated to collecting the stories of frontline workers and labor organizers whose lives have been impacted by COVID-19. The project's end result is the creation of a publicly accessible oral history archive featuring various narrated accounts of the effects of the pandemic on individuals and communities. Interview recordings and transcripts can be accessed at the Labor Archives of Washington's online archive.
2019-2020 Projects
Assessing Worker Satisfaction with PFDs in the Bristol Bay Salmon Gillnet Fishery
Alaska Marine Safety Education Association
Awardee: Heather Brandon
Mentor: Jerry Dzugan
Vocational Health Internships at Iḷisaġvik College
Iḷisaġvik College
Awardee: Caitlin Walls
Mentor: Emily Gueco
Policy Analysis of Worker Health and Safety: Best Practices for Public Sector Employees Exposed to Wildfire Smoke During Work
University of Washington
Awardee: Alexa Yadama
Mentor: Dr. Tania Busch Isaksen
Examining Psychological Health Among Oregon Migrant & Seasonal Farm Workers
Portland State University
Awardee: Megan Snoeyink
Mentor: Dr. Larry Martinez
2018-2019 Projects
Characterizing and Communicating Lessons Learned from Agricultural Pesticide Misuse Investigations in Idaho
Boise State University
Student: Rachel Phinney
Mentor: Dr. Cynthia Curl
Assessment of Whole-Body Vibration and Work-Related Injury Burden Within a Public Works Department
Oregon State University
Student: Stephanie Fitch
Mentor: Dr. Jay Kim
Rural Alaska Native Utility and Construction Worker Injury Prevention Project
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Student: Chris Fish
Mentor: Dr. Noah Seixas
Rethinking Rural: Seed. Root. Work
Rural American Digital Lab (RADLab)
Student: Aurora Martin
Mentor: Nancy Simcox, MS
Check out the video developed for this project: Seed. Root. Work.
Strategies for Addressing Occupational Health Hazards at the Workplace for Formerly Incarcerated Workers
FIGHT (Formerly Incarcerated Group Health Together)
Student: JM Wong
Mentor: Dr. Bill Daniell