Research Initiatives

Preventing Serious Incidents and Fatalities (SIFs)

Workplace injuries have declined significantly over the past thirty years in Europe and the US; yet fatalities have not improved. In Canada, neither injuries nor fatalities have decreased. Although regulators and companies employ a suite of tools to prevent incidents and improve health and safety at workplaces, there is still a major gap in understanding how to generate industry- and company-level learning to prevent serious injuries and fatalities. This research examines industry-level drivers (economic, regulatory, and social) and company-level drivers (predictive modeling, real-time monitoring, and visualization of controls) to eliminate SIFs.

Contact Dr. Lianne Lefsrud today to learn more about how you can get involved.

Enhancing Process Safety and Risk Management

Applying comprehensive process safety and risk management methods, such as Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA), is essential for identifying potential failure modes, developing risk reduction strategies, and pinpointing gaps in practices. QRA systematically evaluates risks using quantitative methods to determine the likelihood and impact of different failure scenarios. This research employs a holistic QRA approach combined with gap analysis to create a robust framework, enabling stakeholders to evaluate and enhance alternative design options. By integrating QRA and gap analysis, stakeholders can understand the risks of different designs, identify areas for improvement, and implement measures to ensure safer, more efficient processes.

Contact Dr. Lianne Lefsrud today to learn more about how you can get involved.

Leveraging Data Analytics, AIML, and Data Visualization

Despite the benefits of data analytics and technology-enabled safety management systems, there is a chasm between companies’ safety intent and implementation: 96% appreciate the value of technology and 77% say safety is part of their corporate culture, but only 32% use leading indicators and just 11% fully use technology. This research leverages natural language processing (NLP) of incidents versus prior inspections to capture missing leading indicators, network analysis to capture complex interactions, and data visualizations to more intuitively illustrate findings.

Contact Dr. Lianne Lefsrud today to learn more about how you can get involved.

Examining Human and Organizational Factors

Up to 80–90% of accidents are caused by individual and organizational failures to identify hazards and understand and manage the associated risks. Organizational research has focused on micro-level causes of failure: the characteristics of hazards and individuals’ inability to detect and manage them. However, information siloing, operational complexity, and organizational change can cause us to overlook rapidly changing environmental and operational conditions, which creates complex, multi-level blindspots. This research uses mixed methods (surveys, interviews, case studies) to examine these individual/organizational barriers.

Contact Dr. Lianne Lefsrud today to learn more about how you can get involved.

Derisking Technology Adoption

The integration of new technologies, such as hydrogen and geothermal energy, is crucial for transforming our energy systems and achieving sustainable goals. However, safety concerns and associated risks currently impede their adoption, compounded by gaps in local zoning laws, Canadian codes, and standards. This research employs Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) to systematically identify and analyze these gaps. By using QRA, the study assesses potential risks and failure modes, providing a structured methodology for risk evaluation and mitigation. The goal is to derisk technology adoption, ensuring new energy solutions can be safely and effectively integrated into existing systems, facilitating the transition to a sustainable energy future.

Contact Dr. Lianne Lefsrud today to learn more about how you can get involved.

Want to Know More?

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Publications

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Videos

Explore Dr. Lefsrud’s YouTube channel to gain valuable insights into cutting-edge research, industry trends, and practical applications in multiple industries.

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Presentations and Media

Visit the Presentations and Media page to view Dr. Lefsrud’s insightful presentations and invited participations.

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Just Us in Our Mission to Drive Innovation and Excellence

Whether you’re an academic, a graduate student, or an industry leader, there are countless opportunities to collaborate, contribute, and make a lasting impact. Partner with us and join a vibrant community dedicated to pushing the boundaries of knowledge and creating real-world solutions. Together, we can achieve extraordinary results. Contact Dr. Lianne Lefsrud today to learn more about how you can get involved.