Trusted research, with reach and impact
The Institute for Work & Health (IWH) is an independent, multidisciplinary, not-for-profit research organization located in Ontario, Canada. IWH conducts and mobilizes research that supports policy-makers, employers and workers in creating healthy, safe and inclusive work environments.
Latest news & findings
Fatal drug overdoses more common among lower-income and unemployed Canadians
Canada is facing a growing drug toxicity crisis. A new IWH study looked at how sociodemographic factors measured by the Canadian census were linked with drug overdose deaths. The researchers found that deaths were highest among those with the lowest income, those who were unemployed or out of the labour force, and those without a high school degree.
PTSI treatment program delivers benefits for first responders, but no change in return-to-work rates
First responders face high rates of post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI) due to the nature of their jobs. In response, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board commissioned treatment program tailored to these workers. A multi-part evaluation of the program, conducted in part by IWH, has found that participants did not show improvements in return-to-work rates. However, participants did see other benefits.
Lower injury rates found when workers feel their workplace prioritizes their wellbeing
Workers who feel their workplaces are not committed to their mental wellbeing have more than twice the risk of work-related physical or mental health injuries compared to workers who feel the opposite. That’s according to an IWH study that asked workers about the psychosocial safety of their workplace—that is, whether an organization prioritizes mental health and wellbeing, and takes action to prevent psychosocial hazards. The study found that poor psychosocial safety and poor physical safety both increase the risk of work-related mental and physical injuries.
What work and health challenges might OHS professionals face by 2040?
What challenges may face occupational health and safety (OHS) practitioners and policy-makers in the next 15 years? An IWH team recruited OHS practitioners from across Canada and Europe to help answer this question. The resulting strategic foresight report offers seven future scenarios that may face OHS by 2040. It also lays out important questions about each scenario that OHS may need to confront in the years to come.
IWH Speaker Series
Learn directly from IWH researchers themselves about their latest findings in health, safety and disability prevention. Coming up next:
How businesses get their start in workplace health and safety: implications for research and policy
Presented by Lynda Robson.
Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 11:00AM EST
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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.
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.
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.