Public safety communicators — such as 911 operators, call takers, dispatchers and tactical radio operators — experience high levels of stress at work. As a result, they may face more health problems than the general population.

Our study will survey and interview around 300 public safety communicators across Manitoba to understand their job-related stress, coping strategies, health and wellness outcomes, and ways to improve their training, resilience and well-being.

Through this research, we aim to support communicators’ health and wellness. Our findings will help inform wellness programs and advocate for recognizing public safety communicators as first responders. In communication work, like in most sectors, work conditions are reflected in the quality of work provided to the population. Thus, we hope this study will contribute to improving work conditions in public safety communications and further enhancing the quality of emergency services provided to Manitobans.