June 2021

Claim suppression study finds employer pressure in four to 13 per cent of cases

About half of British Columbia workers who have a work injury or illness that results in time away from work do not submit a claim to WorkSafeBC. This is according to a recent study by the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) and Prism Economics and Analysis. As detailed in a policy briefing, the study also found an estimated four to 13 per cent of people with work-related injuries in B.C. experience claim suppression—i.e. pressure or inducement from an employer to not make a claim.

Read the Issue Briefing

Read a summary in At Work

Weaker OHS procedures, policies explain small employers’ higher injury risks: study

Workers at small firms say they are more frequently exposed to hazards and report more work-related injuries and illnesses than workers at large firms. But an IWH study finds the injury risks in large and small firms even out when weaker occupational health and safety (OHS) policies at small firms are taken into account.

Read about the study

XXII World Congress program for virtual event now out

The XXII World Congress on Safety and Health at Work is now less than 100 days away! Check out the line-up for the virtual event, taking place September 20-23, 2021. Co-hosted nationally by IWH, the Congress offers more than 30 sessions and symposia, featuring 150 speakers from around the world and focusing on three themes: innovations in addressing long-standing OHS challenges, implications of the changing world of work for OHS, and advancing a culture of prevention.

Go to the XXII World Congress website

Calling experts in disability and work: we need your help

Are you a policy-maker involved in the design of social programs and policies? Are you a labour market expert, a disability employment counsellor, a strategic foresight expert—or another professional with insight into the world of work for people with disabilities? A research team at IWH examining the future of work needs your help. Share your ideas on how to create more inclusive workplaces for young people with disabilities.

Learn more and participate

Protect your skin during COVID and beyond with CREOD resources

The pandemic has significantly increased the use of gloves, masks, and sanitizers across all workplaces. Protecting your hands and face from skin dryness and irritation is critical to prevent long-term severe skin disease. Help build awareness with posters, available in both French and English, for use in workplaces and social media, from the Centre for Research Expertise in Occupational Disease (CREOD). Translation into several more languages is now underway.

Get the posters

Neuromechanical response to repetitive workloads: CRE-MSD webinar

Prolonged, repetitive upper extremity work can lead to the development of neuromuscular fatigue, which is associated with negative outcomes, such as reduced task performance and increased risk for musculoskeletal disorders. Learn how neuromuscular fatigue is affected differently at varying duty cycles, despite being performed at currently recommended ergonomics threshold limits. A June 25 webinar, offered by the Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD), is still open for registration.

Sign up for the webinar

Uyen Vu
Senior Communications Associate
613-979-7742
uvu@iwh.on.ca