Peter Smith

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  • Senior Scientist, Institute for Work & Health. Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
If public health bodies and policymakers put greater focus on improving the work environment, it could achieve major gains in population health and reduce health inequities. (Shutterstock)

The impact of work on well‑being: 6 factors that will affect the future of work and health inequalities

Peter Smith, University of Toronto; Arjumand Siddiqi, University of Toronto; Cameron Mustard, University of Toronto; John William Frank, University of Edinburgh, and Reiner Rugulies, University of Copenhagen

The work environment is a social determinant of health. However, work has been underused as a lever to address health inequalities.
A garment worker walks through a clothing factory in Montréal during the COVID-19 pandemic. Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. did not collect adequate information about workplace transmission. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes 

Lessons from COVID‑19 for the next pandemic: We need better data on workplace transmission

Peter Smith, University of Toronto; Andrew Curran, University of Manchester, and Letitia Davis, Harvard University

Routine collection of work information from people testing positive for COVID-19 from the start of the pandemic would have enabled better understanding of the role of workplaces in transmission.
A health-care worker is seen wearing full personal protective equipment outside the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, B.C. on April 3, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Heath‑care workers lacking PPE suffer from more anxiety and depression

Peter Smith, University of Toronto

Health-care workers’ access to personal protective equipment, along with appropriate infection control procedures, affected their mental health during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For women who work in education, the risks of workplace violence are especially high. New research shows rates of assaults have more than doubled between 2002 and 2015. (Shutterstock)

Women four times more likely to experience sexual assault at work

Peter Smith, University of Toronto

Violence-related injuries at work are on the rise in Canada. New research shows that it is women who suffer the most and especially those working in education.
While office workers often worry they sit too long while on the job, research suggests standing at work increases the risk of heart disease. (Shutterstock)

Standing too much at work can double your risk of heart disease

Peter Smith, University of Toronto

Annoyed you don’t have a sit-stand desk? Spare a thought for those workers who have to stand all day: Standing may double the risk of heart disease.

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