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Workplace safety is often associated with protective equipment, regulations and procedures. But Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ researchers are showing that safer workplaces are also shaped by leadership, communication, organizational practices and the way work is managed.

To help move that research beyond academia, UCalgary researchers joined educators, industry professionals and government representatives at the  Calgary Safety Learning Forum on April 23, hosted at UCalgary. Conversations focused on translating workplace-safety research into practical tools that strengthen education and improve workplace practices. Supported by a (SSHRC) Connection Grant, the long-running forum reflected UCalgary's commitment to connecting research with real-world impact.

, PhD, Croft Chair in Management at the , says research has expanded our understanding of what creates safe workplaces.

"Workplace safety isn't just about rules, equipment or procedures," says Turner, who is also an adjunct professor of psychology with the . "It's also shaped by how work it’s organized, how leaders behave and whether people feel comfortable speaking up. Safety is as much a human and organizational issue as it is a technical one."

Research that reaches beyond academia

For , BSc’20, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar with the Haskayne School, ensuring research reaches the people who can use it has become just as important as conducting it.

Grocutt began studying workplace safety while completing a Bachelor of Science in psychology at UCalgary under Turner's supervision. She later continued that work as a postdoctoral scholar. As one of the lead organizers of the forum, she helped secure the SSHRC Connection Grant and co-ordinated presenters from across Canada.

"There's so much research that goes on in academia, but it doesn't always get out into the real world," says Grocutt. "The goal is to bridge that gap and make our research findings practical."

Organized in partnership with , a non-profit dedicated to advancing safety education in business and engineering schools, the forum created opportunities for researchers, educators, students and industry partners to exchange ideas and explore practical solutions to workplace safety challenges.

Broadening the conversation

The research shared at the forum demonstrates that workplace safety extends beyond preventing injuries. UCalgary researchers have examined how family relationships influence safety communication among young workers, how workplace injuries affect workers' families long after an incident occurs, and how organizational practices can contribute to safer workplaces.

One area of Grocutt's research focused on what she calls the "secondary victims" of workplace injuries and fatalities. While workplace safety research often centres on prevention, her work explored how organizations can better support the people affected after an incident.

“We focus so much on preventing injuries and fatalities, which is incredibly important," says Grocutt. "But unfortunately, they still happen. Our research explores how organizations can better support the people affected after those incidents.

Her research suggests organizations could strengthen worker rehabilitation by involving families more intentionally, recognizing that workplace injuries often affect far more than the individual worker.

Building safer workplaces together

For Grocutt, one of the forum's greatest strengths was bringing together people with different expertise to tackle shared challenges.

"Everyone has a different perspective," says Grocutt. "Having everyone in the same room discussing the same topic opens our minds to new possibilities and creates opportunities to collaborate across different areas."

Turner hopes forums like Minerva help research influence the way workplaces are managed.

"Safety has to be designed into the way work is managed," says Turner. "It's not enough to tell people to be careful. Organizations need systems and leaders that make safe decisions easier."