What is the IRSST?Organization Partners Annual report Policies

Declaration of Principles on
Equal Representation

Whereas equal representation is the foundation of the Act respecting occupational health and safety (AOHS), which “provides mechanisms for the participation of workers, workers’ associations, employers and employers’ associations in the realization of its object,” specifically, “the elimination, at the source, of dangers to the health, safety and physical well-being of workers”;

whereas the creation of the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST) is based on a section of the AOHS;

whereas the composition and modus operandi of the IRSST’s decision-making and consultative bodies are based on the principle of equal representation;

whereas the IRSST’s Scientific Policy stipulates that “projects carried out in workplaces are conducted using a collaborative approach, with the agreement and participation of the employers and workers in the companies involved”;

therefore, the IRSST promotes equal representation of workers’ and employers’ interests and recognizes its importance at the level of institutional and operational values.

Guiding principles

The IRSST has set itself the goal of conducting and financing research that meet the needs of the CSST, its own network, and the working community, which they may appropriate for their own uses.

To be accepted, projects must meet three criteria:

relevance
priority
scientific merit

The IRSST's Scientific Advisory Board is responsible for evaluating project proposals, with scientific merit evaluated through peer review. The board, which advises the president-CEO, is composed of worker and employer representatives and members of the scientific and technical community.

Field projects are carried out with the consent and participation of the employers and workers of the companies involved.

Requirements of the scientific process

The merit of scientific and technical activities, in keeping with internationally accepted criteria.
The innovative nature of the research and its contribution to the advancement of knowledge or to the transfer of knowledge.
The Institute encourages multi-disciplinarity in its research teams, as well as the complementarity of scientific resources with those of universities and other research centres.

Occupational health and safety requirements

A link to tangible problems during preventive or rehabilitation processes;
The partnership of occupational health and safety network stakeholders in identifying research needs and in providing scientific and technical support in their activities;
The participation of intermediaries who are likely to promote and disseminate the results;
When required by the research, the IRSST prefers to form a follow-up committee of potential users who are in a position to relay the results to the working community.

Occupational health and safety research is a dynamic process, requiring health and safety partners who subscribe to the scientific process and researchers who are able to adapt to circumstances calling for equal participation.