START Lab
A space designed to respond to workplace health and safety questions, helping identify risk factors, understand task demands, evaluate new technologies, and test targeted interventions.
The Skilled Trades Applied Research and Training (START) Lab is a state-of-the-art facility designed to measure multiple dimensions of human performance related to workplace injury risk. Equipped with advanced biomechanical, physiological, and exposure-assessment technologies, the START Lab enables CISWP researchers to study how work is performed and to develop, test, and evaluate innovative solutions that reduce the risk of injury and improve work performance.
What research is occurring in the START Lab?
The START Lab supports a wide range of applied research projects, including CISWP’s Safe WorkSITE program and partner-driven applied research. The START lab is designed to respond timely, relevant, workplace health and safety questions, helping identify risk factors, understand task demands, evaluate new technologies, and test targeted interventions.
Where is the START Lab located?
The START Lab is located in Cambridge, Ontario, embedded within one of Canada’s largest and most advanced skilled trades training campus.
What is the goal of the START Lab?
The START Lab aims to deepen understanding of the risk factors associated with workplace injuries and illnesses, with a particular focus on the skilled trades. By recreating real‑world work conditions in a controlled environment, researchers can evaluate the effectiveness of tools, technologies, interventions, and work practices that prevent injuries and support sustainable careers.