Wintertime Slip, Trip and Falls Seminar!

Dear colleagues,

We are thrilled to invite you to the Wintertime Slip, Trip and Falls Seminar on October 23rd 2023 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm EDT! Join us in learning valuable insights from two experts in Safety Hazard prevention, Dr. Sophia (Yue) Li and Dr. Ruth Barclay, on the latest advancements in Wintertime Slips, Trips and Falls Prevention.

This hybrid event will be held in person at the KITE Research Institute at University Health Network at 550 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, as well as online via Zoom Webinar. If you plan to attend in person, please consider joining the networking breakfast from 9:00 am to 10:00 am and a WinterLab tour from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

What To Expect:

This seminar showcases two talks from our experts centred around preparations for safety during the upcoming winter months. It spotlights research initiatives designed by Canada’s experts in the field, dedicated to investigating strategies for winter safety.

Powered by the KITE Research Institute at the University Health Network (KITE-UHN), organized by the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE), and endorsed by the International Ergonomics Association (IEA), this event will provide insights into KITE’s renowned ‘Rate My Treads Program’ and its pioneering research on the slip-resistant properties of winter footwear, discuss the barriers and facilitators associated with outdoor winter walking, and investigate the resources related to safe outdoor winter walking.

Presenters: 

Dr. Ruth Barclay is a Professor at the University of Manitoba’s College of Rehabilitation Sciences, with a focus on community ambulation and quality of life in older adults and stroke survivors. She leads CIHR-funded projects and serves as a Research Affiliate at Riverview Health Centre and the Centre on Aging, University of Manitoba. Her talk, “Winter-Walk Team Findings,” explores the challenges of winter outdoor walking for older adults, highlighting the Winter-Walk team’s 10 research priorities, scoping review projects, and the crucial emphasis on safety. Additionally, she presents insights from a qualitative study on outdoor winter walking interventions for older adults with mobility limitations.

Dr. Sophia (Yue) Li is a Staff Scientist and Strategic Partnerships Manager at UHN’s KITE Research Institute. Her extensive expertise in biomedical engineering and rehabilitation research focuses on assistive technologies, weather/building safety, and fall prevention. As Co-Chair of IEA’s Slips, Trips, and Falls Committee, she’s a key contributor to enhancing safety for the aging population and those with disabilities. Her talk, “Empowering Winter Safety: RateMyTreads for Secure Steps,” delves into the impactful RateMyTreads Program, revealing its potential to reduce winter slip and fall incidents by 79% and addressing the challenges hindering its broader adoption.

In-Person Benefits:

Networking Breakfast: Form connections with researchers, healthcare experts and fellow attendees over a complimentary breakfast at our UHN facility.

Research Lab Tour: Enter the world of winter safety through an exclusive tour of our state-of-the-art research labs. You will receive a virtual tour of the Challenging Environmental Assessment Laboratory (CEAL), which includes our WinterLab and DriverLab!