Research that matters to protecting the health and safety of workers

The Institute for Work & Health (IWH) is a Canadian leader in work injury and disability prevention research. An independent, not-for-profit organization, IWH conducts and shares actionable research to promote, protect and improve the health and safety of working people.

Latest news & findings

A man kneels as he works with decking boards on a patio

Review summary explores relationship between work and osteoarthritis

Bending, kneeling, climbing or lifting. Which of these work activities, among others, are associated with a greater risk of osteoarthritis (OA) in men and women? A systematic review conducted by IWH—the first to include a wide range of joints affected by OA—are now summarized in our latest Sharing Best Evidence. 

/summaries/sharing-best-evidence/work-activities-and-development-of-osteoarthri…

Five images from 5 things you should know handout

5 Things We Think You Should Know

Every year, we pull together five of IWH's most practical research findings from the past year for professionals in occupational health and safety (OHS). The 2020 edition of 5 Things We Think You Should Know is now available. What five key health and safety findings did we choose for you this year?

Get the handout

A grey coronavirus amid question marks

How IWH research is adapting to reflect COVID-19 context

It will likely take time for researchers, workplace parties and policy-makers to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the intersection between work and health. Here at the Institute, several ongoing studies are being adapted to reflect new pandemic realities.

Find out more

A roomful of people listen intently to workshop presenter

Supporting settlement agencies to provide OHS information to newcomers

Newcomers to Canada face a higher risk of workplace injury and illness. That’s due in part to a lack of knowledge about their occupational health and safety (OHS) rights and responsibilities. Settlement agencies can help raise this awareness, but they also need support from the prevention system to do so. That’s according to a recent project involving IWH and several partner organizations.

Read about the project

A health-care worker wearing a face mask and body covering

Anxiety levels among health-care workers during COVID-19 linked to inadequate PPE

 

Nearly six in 10 surveyed health-care workers in Canada reported anxiety at levels surpassing an accepted threshold for clinical screening for the condition. Workers who reported more unmet PPE needs also reported higher levels of anxiety, according to a study by the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW), with analytical support from IWH.

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IN THE CURRENT ISSUE...

Nearly six in 10 health-care workers felt anxiety at levels surpassing a threshold for clinical screening—and inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE) was a significant factor, according to a survey conducted in April by OHCOW, with analytical support from IWH

One in 12 surveyed workers use cannabis at or just before work, a level unchanged since before recreational cannabis was legalized
 
Tips on setting up a temporary home office using ergonomics principles—and stretches to use if you feel aches and pains
 

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Tools and guides

Integrate evidence-based policies and practices into your occupational health and safety, return-to-work and rehabilitation programs. IWH has created a number of tools and guides based on our research findings that can help improve program outcomes.

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Impact case studies

Find out how IWH research is making a difference. Read our impact case studies, in which policy-makers, workplaces and other stakeholders in health, safety and disability prevention tell how IWH research helped improve their policies, programs and practices.

Go to case studies

Research summaries

Whether it’s a policy briefing, a systematic review summary or the highlights of a specific research project, we’ve compiled a number of plain-language summaries to help you understand the research we’re doing, what we have found, and how we found it.

Get the summaries

Events

Learn directly from the researchers themselves about their latest findings in health, safety and disability prevention. We host regular presentations (in person or live stream) through our IWH Speaker Series and our annual Nachemson lecture.

See upcoming events