Listed below are selected articles published by organizations external to the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) that mention the Institute’s work. This includes articles that report on IWH research and/or quote Institute researchers, as well as articles written by IWH researchers or staff. The organizations include general media, specialty media in the field of work injury and disability prevention, and prevention system partners. The list runs from the most recent to the oldest media mention. It is not exhaustive.
Construction ranks high among occupations harmed by opioids: IWH study
A recent academic article with an Ontario focus offers new insights into the links between workplace-related injuries and opioid harms, with certain occupations including construction found to be at particularly high risk, writes Don Wall
Media outlet
Daily Commercial News
Date published
Thriving while sick: mentorship platform helps chronically ill workers navigate workplace issues
In an article about an online platform that connects adults with chronic illnesses with mentors, freelance reporter Sanam Islam cites IWH research on workers' reluctance to disclose their chronic illnesses to access workplace support.
Media outlet
The Globe and Mail
Date published
‘Unprecedented public health crisis’: Pioneering research studies links between workplaces, opioid harms
Dr. Nancy Carnide and Dr. Jeavana Sritharan were keynote presenters at the Opioids in the Workplace virtual event from OHS Canada and Talent Canada on Jan. 31 that attracted nearly 350 professionals. Their research, a collaborative effort between IWH and the Occupational Cancer Research Centre, offers a revealing look at the occupational patterns in opioid-related harms in Ontario and underscores the urgent need for intervention strategies tailored to the working population, writes Todd Humber.
Media outlet
OHS Canada
Date published
Shining a light on opioid epidemic's link to the workplace
There is a new tool shedding light on opioid-related incidents among Ontario workers. The Opioids and Work Data Tool was developed through a collaboration between the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) and the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC), Shane Mercer reports.
Media outlet
Canadian Occupational Safety
Date published
Mental health comorbidities affect workers' recovery from back pain: report
In an article about a report on comorbidities and low back pain from the Workers Compensation Research Institute, reporter Jim Wilson cites IWH research about persistent pain among injured workers in Ontario.
Media outlet
Human Resources Director Canada
Date published
Study shows worker injuries due to falls from heights declined after Ontario made training standardized and mandatory
Among recent organized efforts to make jobsites safer, working-at-heights training has been effective, reports an Institute for Work & Health (IWH) study. As Adam Freill reports, in the three-year period after Ontario made working-at-heights training in the construction sector standardized and mandatory, study authors explain that the rate of fall-from-height injuries leading to time off work fell by 19 per cent.
Media outlet
On-Site Magazine
Date published
Injured workers are using cannabis to self-medicate, study shows
Most workers who use cannabis to treat work-related injuries and illnesses do so without medical guidance or authorization, a recent study out of Canada suggests. This article summarizes findings from the Institute's Ontario Life After Work Injury Study. It found 27.4 per cent of the workers reported using cannabis in the past year. Of that group, 14.1 per cent did so to ease symptoms stemming from a work-related condition, with the majority (67.3 per cent) not receiving guidance on therapeutic cannabis use from a health care provider.
Media outlet
Safety + Health
Date published
The impact of work on well-being: 6 factors that will affect the future of work and health inequalities
Work has long been considered a social determinant of health, but it has been underused as a lever to address health inequities. That’s the main case an international group of work and health researchers, including IWH researchers, have made in a series of articles on the relationships between work and health recently published in The Lancet, writes Dr. Peter Smith.
Media outlet
The Conversation Canada
Date published
AI is reshaping the workplace – but what does it mean for the health and well-being of workers?
Throughout history, periods of technological transformation have introduced new tools to workplaces and altered working conditions in ways that have impacted worker health in both positive and negative ways. The increasing availability of smartphone technology, for example, has given rise to the digital gig economy characterized by temporary and freelance work, or short-term contracts. While this shift presents novel work opportunities, it also contributes to widespread labour market precarity that has negatively impacted the well-being of workers. This article is reprinted from an article authored by IWH's Dr. Arif Jetha in The Conversation Canada.
Media outlet
Canadian Manufacturing
Date published
Climate change could mean longer hours, stagnating wages
Extreme weather caused by climate change is changing the jobs of health care workers, outdoor labourers, and even flight attendants, writes Gabriela Calugay-Casuga. Research from IWH about the union safety effect is cited.
Media outlet
Rabble.ca
Date published
Cannabis use during work raises workplace injury odds, research shows
A study by the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) has shed light on the association between cannabis use and work injury risk. As reported by Ada Tabanao, by distinguishing between on-the-job cannabis consumption and off-duty use, researchers found a significant difference in injury risks.
Media outlet
Benefits and Pensions Monitor
Date published
Analysis: One in seven use cannabis to recover from work-related injuries
An estimated one in seven Canadians report using cannabis products to recuperate from work-related physical injuries, according to data published in the journal BMJ Open. Researchers at the Institute for Work & Health surveyed nearly 1,200 Canadians who had received workers’ compensation for either a work-related injury or illness. Fourteen percent of respondents said that they had used cannabis explicitly to recuperate from a workplace injury.
Media outlet
NORML
Date published
Workers in construction, mining most impacted by opioid-related harm: research
Previously injured workers in sectors including construction, mining and forestry are more likely to end up in the emergency room or to be hospitalized due to opioid-related harm than workers in other sectors in Ontario. Lindsay Kelly reports on findings shared by the Institute for Work & Health and the Occupational Cancer Research Centre at a webinar hosted by EPID at Work, a occupational health research institute at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay.
Media outlet
NWOnewswatch
Date published
Province changes rules around workers’ comp
Jim Wilson reports on changes to British Columbia's Workers Compensation Act that require cooperation between an employer and injured worker with WorkSafeBC in order to aid the return-to-work process, cites IWH study on pain after a work-related injury.
Media outlet
Canadian HR Reporter
Date published
New federal initiative aiming to increase employment rate of persons with disabilities
The Inclusive Design for Employment Access (IDEA) initiative aims to build the capacity of employers to hire and accommodate persons with disabilities. This article profiles the initiative's mission.
Media outlet
Benefits Canada
Date published
Supporting workers with chronic conditions
Report profiling the Job Demands and Accommodation Planning Tool (JDAPT) and its capacity to help worker's find accommodations without disclosing a condition to their employer.
Media outlet
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety
Date published
GE Johnson implements green hard hat program
A new initiative at GE Johnson is profiled that assigns green hard hats to new hires in an effort to increase training and encourage other workers to pay closer attention to their safety, citing IWH findings about new workers having a higher risk of work-related injuries.
Media outlet
Mile High CRE
Date published
Worker deaths in 2022 10 times higher than what WSIB reported
Shane Mercer reports that workplace injuries are underreported to the Ontario’s Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) and other Worker’s Compensation Boards (WCBs), a claim estimated in part using IWH research comparing ER visits and WSIB claims.
Media outlet
Canadian Occupational Safety
Date published
Older workers not prone to ask for employer support
Article reports on an IWH study that found older workers to be reluctant to disclose their need for support in the workplace due to reputational and stereotyping concerns.
Media outlet
Rehab & Community Care
Date published
Workplace fatalities in Canada are way too high
Sean Strickland provides an opinion on workplace fatalities in light of the National Day of Mourning, which commemorates those who have been killed or injured in workplace accidents. A 2021 IWH study on Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) claims in unionized and non-unionized work is cited.
Media outlet
Calgary Herald
Date published
NSC announces new cannabis-focused report, web tool and webinars
Alex Saurman reports on resources from the National Safety Council relating to cannabis safety, cites IWH speaker series presentation on the effects of cannabis on workers.
Media outlet
Occupational Health & Safety
Date published
True toll of work-related death far exceeds WSIB allowed claims
Ontario worker deaths underestimated by WSIB worker death claims. IWH research on estimated numbers of unreported worker conditions is cited in this article that details this issue.
Media outlet
Workers Health & Safety Centre
Date published
Workplace health conversations are awkward: A new tool is here to help.
Todd Humber reports on discussions about chronic health accommodations at work, profiles the role of the Job Demands and Accommodation Planning Tool (JDAPT).
Media outlet
OHS Canada
Date published
‘A New Way To Move People’: Fewer Back Injuries for Health-care Workers, More Comfort for Patients
Emma Arkell reports on the impact of healthcare work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) and how a new device may help reduce MSDs resulting from manually lifting and carrying patients in a hospital setting. Dwayne van Eerd is quoted about research worker compensation claims related to MSDs.
Media outlet
The Good Men Project
Date published
Accommodation tools aims to bridge gaps between workers and employers
An article by Shane Mercer covering an interview with Monique Gignac about the newly released Job Demands and Accommodation Planning Tool (JDAPT) tool for workers, and the soon-to-be-released version of the tool for employers.
Media outlet
Canadian Occupation Safety
Date published
‘A new way to move people.’ Fewer injuries for health-care workers, more comfort for patients
An article on musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and patient lifts in healthcare by Emma Arkell includes comments from Dwayne van Eerd for context on the prevalence of MSDs and related return-to-work challenges.
Media outlet
Healthy Debate
Date published
Tool to help workers with chronic and episodic health conditions
Shane Mercer reports on the Job Demands and Accommodation Planning Tool (JDAPT) ahead of it's March 21 launch date, including quotes from Monique Gignac describing the tool.
Media outlet
Canadian Occupation Safety
Date published
How can workers with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis be better supported?
An article by John Dujay reports on presentations from the Canadian Arthritis Research Conference on how employers can help employees living with psoriatic conditions, citing Arif Jetha's presentation.
Media outlet
Canadian HR Reporter
Date published
How employers can support employees with psoriatic conditions
Sadie Janes reports on research about workers with psoriatic conditions, including Arif Jetha's research, presented at Canadian Arthritis Research Conference.
Media outlet
Benefits Canada
Date published
Employers struggle to provide newcomers with OHS training, support: IWH study
A reprint of this IWH At Work article was included the February 2023 issue of the OCA's Construction Comment magazine.
Media outlet
Construction Comment: Ottawa Construction Association
Date published
Union calls for national task force to fight violence against transport workers
An article by Jim Wilson on workplace violence in the transit sector cites IWH study on pain post-injury.
Media outlet
Canadian HR Reporter
Date published
Standardized working at heights training improves safety, study
A follow-up study looking at the impact of Ontario’s mandated working at heights training confirms standardized training results in safer work.
Media outlet
Workers Health & Safety Centre
Date published
Report urges worker safety while respecting cultural differences
Growing numbers of immigrants are welcomed as an important tool in Canada's economic growth, but systemic OHS improvements are needed to ensure they can work as safely as their non-immigrant co-workers, Don Wall reports on an IWH study.
Media outlet
Daily Commercial News
Date published
Older employees reluctant to ask for support: study
When it comes to asking for support on the job, either due to health or family-related reasons, a deep hesitation is present among older workers, John Dujay reports.
Media outlet
Canadian HR Reporter
Date published
Educators lack protection in-class and support online, studies find
Educators have worked on the pandemic frontlines from day one but until now few studies have examined how evolving teaching conditions impact their health and safety.
Two recent peer-reviewed studies by the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) and the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) shed light on the impacts of COVID upon educators. A lack of workplace protective measures and support for those teaching online have taken a huge toll on educators’ mental and physical health.
Two recent peer-reviewed studies by the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) and the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) shed light on the impacts of COVID upon educators. A lack of workplace protective measures and support for those teaching online have taken a huge toll on educators’ mental and physical health.
Media outlet
Workers Health & Safety Centre
Date published
Study finds long-term pain an issue for many injured workers
A recent study of injured workers in Ontario “reinforces the importance of modified duties (if necessary) and return-to-work planning,” researcher say after results showed 70% experienced persistent pain 18 months after being injured.
Media outlet
Safety+Health
Date published
7 in 10 injured workers still experience pain 18 months later
Seven in 10 workers who were injured on the job in Ontario still experience pain 18 months after the incident, Jim Wilson reports on findings from an IWH study.
Media outlet
Canadian HR Reporter
Date published
They made doors, gum and jerry cans. Ontario’s ‘essential’ workers in manufacturing accounted for more workplace COVID deaths than any other sector — even health care
Using fatality reports filed to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, the Toronto Star's Sara Mojtehedzadeh put together a comprehensive snapshot of COVID deaths in Ontario that are linked to workplace transmission. IWH president Dr. Peter Smith offers comments on the importance of occupational data in pandemic surveillance.
Media outlet
Toronto Star
Date published
Which is better, online or in-person learning?
As many workplaces moved to online environments during the pandemic, training and development followed suit and many employees took courses in a virtual environment. John Dujay shares results of an Institute for Work & Health review that compares the effectiveness of online training with that of in-person training.
Media outlet
Canadian HR Reporter
Date published
IWH, OCRC project delves into role of employment in opioid crisis
The number of people who die or who are being hospitalized due to opioids continues to rise, prompting the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) and the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) to launch a research project monitoring opioid-related adverse health events in order to identify the worker groups most at risk. Angela Gismondi reports.
Media outlet
Daily Commercial News
Date published
Study raises concerns about popular psychosocial work survey
Many organizations gauge the mental health of their workplace with the use of a psychosocial work survey. But one widely used survey, Guarding Minds at Work, may have some problems with its effectiveness, according to a joint study by the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) and Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW), writes John Dujay.
Media outlet
Canadian HR Reporter
Date published
Unreported job injuries: ‘The elephant in the workplace’
While the frustrations of those seeking help from British Columbia’s system for compensating injured workers have been well-documented, much less is known about the many people who are injured at work but never make a claim, writes Andrew MacLeod, reporting on an IWH study on the extent of claim suppression in B.C.
Media outlet
The Tyee
Date published
Link to source
It’s time for a culture shift where disability inclusion is concerned
As the pandemic lingers, Canadian employers are experiencing a human-resources crunch, now commonly referred to as “The Great Resignation.” But this challenge also comes with an opportunity, writes the Honourable Yazmine Laroche, Canada’s first deputy minister of public service accessibility and the deputy minister champion for federal employees with disabilities. She mentions a new IWH-co-led study, Inclusive Design for Employment Access, as an example of of how the labour market can embrace equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Media outlet
The Globe and Mail
Date published
Study finds positive ROI in workplace safety and health in three key sectors
A study of large employers in the manufacturing, construction and transportation sectors in Ontario found average returns on investment in workplace safety and health ranging from 24% to 114%, according to research by the Institute for Work & Health.
Media outlet
Safety+Health
Date published
‘My new co-worker is shiny’: Pandemic accelerated adoption of workplace robots
As new workplace health and safety needs surface due to the pandemic, these emerging demands require fresh, dynamic solutions. For robotics, pandemic was its time to shine, writes Jack Burton, with comments from Dr. Arif Jetha from the Institute for Work & Health.
Media outlet
OHS Canada
Date published
MSD prevention should consider role of gender and psychosocial hazards too
Workplaces need to examine how work is organized and assigned by gender if they want to understand and address the real root causes of musculoskeletal injuries (MSDs). WHSC reports on a virtual RSI Day event hosted by the Manitoba Federation of Labour’s Occupational Health Centre with support from SAFE Work Manitoba. As part of the program IWH scientists Dr. Dwayne Van Eerd and Dr. Heather Johnston offered an interactive presentation exploring common work-related risk factors for both musculoskeletal and psychological injury.
Media outlet
Workers Health & Safety Centre
Date published
Rethinking Pain - A CRAM Ideas Podcast episode
Why do we feel pain long after an injury has healed? Do I feel pain differently than you? How does culture affect our perception of pain? And what’s the most effective way to treat the pain that doesn’t stop? CRAM Ideas host Mary Ito speaks with Dr. Andrea Furlan, a leading expert on pain.
Date published
Link to source
The physical activity paradox
Emerging evidence points to negative health effects of physical work demands, suggesting the need for more warm-ups and work breaks for labourers. That's according to IWH Associate Scientist Dr. Aviroop Biswas, who shared findings pointing to what's called the "physical activity paradox" in a recent webinar.
Media outlet
Rehab & Community Care
Date published
Employees, leaders differ on mental health supports
Despite lots of talk around the importance of good mental health while on the job, the supports for workers are still lacking. John Dujay interviews Institute for Work & Health Scientist Dr. Dwayne Van Eerd on his study examining mental health supports, from the perspectives of workers and managers.
Media outlet
Canadian HR Reporter
Date published
Ontario ministry could recommend changes to working-at-heights training
A testimony from William Roy, a senior Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MOL) policy manager, revealed potential changes to working at heights (WAH) training which could be implemented as soon as April.
The revelation came on day three on Ontario’s swing stage inquest into the 2009 scaffolding collapse at an Etobicoke high rise, in which four people died. Roy's testimony included suggestions for training reforms, contained in a Feb. 2019 report conducted by the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) and commissioned by the Ministry.
The revelation came on day three on Ontario’s swing stage inquest into the 2009 scaffolding collapse at an Etobicoke high rise, in which four people died. Roy's testimony included suggestions for training reforms, contained in a Feb. 2019 report conducted by the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) and commissioned by the Ministry.
Media outlet
Canadian Occupational Safety
Date published
Inquest witness pressed on Working at Heights training outcomes
Testimony from a senior Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MOL) policy manager on day three of Ontario’s swing stage inquest Feb. 2 revealed the ministry may be recommending changes to Working at Heights (WAH) training as soon as April. Don Wall reports.
Media outlet
Daily Commercial News
Date published
Host of symptoms, variable recovery times complicate return to work for those with long COVID
Long COVID can be difficult for workplaces to grapple with, due to the variety of symptoms, the way it flares up unexpectedly and the unclear timeline for recovery. IWH Senior Scientist Dr. Peter Smith is among the researchers interviewed in this episode of The Current.
Media outlet
CBC Radio - The Current
Date published
How the City of Toronto is supporting employee mental health in 2022 and beyond
As many organizations, including the City of Toronto, plan on bringing white-collar staff back to the office after some spent nearly two years working from home, employers are prioritizing employees’ mental-health support this year and beyond. Melissa Dunne interviews IWH Scientific Co-Director and Senior Scientist Dr. Peter Smith, among others.
Media outlet
Benefits Canada
Date published
Analyzing the data behind workplace spread of COVID-19
According to a pair of studies conducted jointly by the Institute for Work & Health and Public Health Ontario, layers of COVID-19 infection control measures were adopted in majority of workplaces through pandemic during the second and third waves. And between April 2020 and March 2021, rates of workplace COVID-19 transmission in most sectors were lower than rates of community spread.
Media outlet
OHS Canada
Date published
Less than half of injured workers submit comp claims: Report
Less than half who reported missing two or more workdays as a result of an injury or disease submitted a claim to WorkSafeBC, according to a report from Institute for Work & Health. As Jim Wilson reports, just over half (53.7 per cent) did not submit a claim to WorkSafeBC and a quarter (26.7 per cent) reported that they received wage continuation from their employer or their workplace sick leave plan.
Media outlet
Canadian Occupational Safety
Date published
How can workplaces help promote exercise?
To help promote regular exercise among workers, workplaces must recognize that work conditions can sometimes be barriers to working out. IWH Associate Scientist Dr. Aviroop Biswas talks with NEWSTALK1010's Dave Trafford about employers can help workers make fitness part of their work day.
Media outlet
The Weekend Morning Show with Dave Trafford
Date published
Workplaces can help promote exercise, but job conditions remain a major hurdle
We know regular exercise is really good for health, but many workers do not exercise as much as they should. Yes, workplaces can help promote fitness. However, workplaces also need to look beyond individual responsibility to get active, and address the job conditions that can get in the way, writes IWH's Dr. Avi Biswas in this op-ed piece.
Media outlet
The Conversation
Date published
Lessons from COVID-19 for the next pandemic: We need better data on workplace transmission
If we had, from the early days of the pandemic, routinely and systematically collected information from COVID-positive people about their work, we would have enhanced our understanding of the role of workplaces in the spread of COVID-19, the relative importance of mitigation strategies, and potentially allowed more people to continue working at the workplace with minimal risk. That's according to an op-ed co-authored by Institute for Work & Health's Dr. Peter Smith, Prof. Andrew Curran of the United Kingdom's Health and Safety Executive, and Dr. Letitia Davis of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Media outlet
The Conversation
Date published
How workplaces can support staff with MS
Canada has one of the highest rates of multiple scleroris and employers need to do more to accommodate, according to Julie Kelndorfer of MS Society of Canada. Maia Foulis interviews her about what workplaces can do to be safe and welcoming to people with the condition, and why the society is a partner on an Institute for Work & Health research project on communicating about episodic disability.
Media outlet
Canadian Occupational Safety
Date published
WorkSafeBC fellowship awardee on the importance of good ergonomics
Dr. Heather Johnston is a recent recipient of the inaugural WorkSafeBC Ralph McGinn Postdoctoral Fellowship award. Her research project is on the risk factors and hazards common between work-related psychological injuries and musculoskeletal injuries, as well as how Canadian workplaces address these common risk factors.
Media outlet
Canadian Occupational Safety
Date published
Lack of support at work makes COVID worse for people with disabilities
The coronavirus pandemic has negatively affected plenty of employees. But for those with physical or mental health challenges, a lack of support on the job has exacerbated the issues. John Dujay reports on a study conducted by Dr. Monique Gignac of the Institute for Work and Health (IWH).
Media outlet
Canadian HR Reporter
Date published
I struggled with office life. Now others are alive to benefits of remote working
For years, people with invisible disabilities—including neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)—have campaigned for accommodations that would allow us to do our jobs well. Chief among these is the flexibility to work from home, writes Angela Lashbrook. The Institute's Dr. Arif Jetha is interviewed about how working from home was one of the most unmet work accommodation needs prior to the pandemic.
Media outlet
The Guardian
Date published
Work-related skin cancer among construction workers set to double by 2060
Cases of work-related non-melanoma skin cancer among construction workers in Ontario are on track to double by 2060. However, according to new research done by the Institute for Work & Health (IWH), if protective equipment and clothing such as long-sleeve shirts, pants and neck coverings are worn by construction workers, up to 6,034 cases of such cancers could be averted over the next three decades. That would result in $38 million in costs (in 2017 Canadian dollars) being saved over a 30-year period, Grant Cameron reports.
Media outlet
Daily Commercial News
Date published
How to take care of your body if you stand all day at work
“Work is pretty much the only environment where people tend to stand for prolonged periods of time.” So said IWH's Dr. Peter Smith in an article by Em Cassel on the negative health effects of working on one's feet all day long.
Media outlet
Vice
Date published
Health researchers dig into B.C. injury claims
Are work injury claims in B.C. being suppressed, under-claimed or misrepresented? The Institute for Work and Health (IWH) recently collaborated with Prism Economics and Analysis to conduct a study to find out. They concluded the rate of claim suppression of work-related injury or disease in B.C. is in the range of 3.7 to 13 per cent. They also found that the incidence of claim suppression appears to be higher where the employer has created a bonus plan that rewards employees keep a workplace incident-free.
Media outlet
Journal of Commerce
Date published
OHS for small businesses the next challenge for Ontario: IWH president
Too many small workplaces do not have adequate occupational health and safety (OHS) tools available to keep their workers safe. Don Wall interviews Dr. Cameron Mustard, Institute for Work & Health president, who says it’s time for Ontario to redouble its efforts to ensure the province’s small employers conduct business in healthy and safe environments.
Media outlet
Daily Commercial News
Date published
Re-opening the economy should include access for young people with chronic disease
Young workers who are immunocompromised will need employers to continue to enforce COVID-19-prevention strategies. And paid sick leave will remain a priority to prevent workers from coming to work with COVID-19 symptoms, writes IWH's Dr. Arif Jetha in an op-ed.
Media outlet
The Province
Date published
Work-related mental illnesses cost more than physical injuries do
When workers suffer from chronic stress or other mental illnesses related to their work, many organizations are at a loss. So, too, are workers’ compensation systems and health-care providers, according to an study conducted by IWH and Monash University. We need to change the way we view, respond to, and accommodate these conditions, writes Dr. Peter Smith in an op/ed.
Media outlet
Talent Canada
Date published
Episodic health conditions
There's no simple "yes" or "no" answer to the question, “Should I tell my employer I have a chronic condition that sometimes makes it hard to work?” At the Institute for Work & Health, researchers have been working to develop a research-based decision-making tool. In one of the studies conducted to support the tool’s evidence base, the team explored people’s reasons for disclosing their episodic condition and found they do matter to the support they get, writes Dr. Monique Gignac.
Media outlet
Rehab & Community Care
Date published
Supervisors and people in safety-sensitive jobs using cannabis at work, researchers find
Workers who reported using cannabis before or during a shift – including supervisors and people in safety-sensitive jobs – had jobs and work environments in which detection was less likely, according to the results of a recent study out of Canada.
Media outlet
Safety + Health
Date published
How does unionization make a difference with workplace safety?
The union safety effect is real — at least in Ontario’s major construction sector, writes John Dujay in reporting on research findings from IWH Scientist Dr. Lynda Robson
Media outlet
Canadian HR Reporter
Date published
What employers can learn from the NBA about returning to work amid COVID-19
The response of employers to the COVID-19 pandemic has been a mixed bag. As the economy reopens, employers face new challenges navigating health and productivity pitfalls when bringing workers back to physical premises. The National Basketball Association’s experiences returning to the hard court last season was a well-publicized achievement. IWH Scientist Dr. Arif Jetha and Public Health Ontario's Dr. Brendan Smith list four important lessons from the NBA for employers on how to return employees to the workplace during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Media outlet
The Conversation
Date published
Quebec and Ontario labour activists urge for more transparency around COVID-19 outbreaks in workplaces
Labour activists in Quebec and Ontario say more transparency is needed around COVID-19 outbreaks in warehouses and factories, writes the Canadian Press's Jacob Serebrin, with comments from IWH President Dr. Cameron Mustard.
Media outlet
The Canadian Press
Date published
Ontario locks down on Boxing Day, but essential workers still work. Without protections like paid sick leave, it just won’t work
When the province-wide lockdown starts on Boxing Day, Ontario’s essential workers will still be going to work. But what is abundantly clear is that what we have done in the past to protect essential workers has not been working, write Sabina Vohra, Dr. Naheed Dosani, Dr. Seema Marwaha and Semir Bulle in an op-ed. An IWH joint study on mental health and the adequacy of COVID-19 protection measures is cited.
Media outlet
Inside Halton
Date published
Study links inadequate PPE, COVID-19 infection controls to worker mental health issues
Feelings of anxiety and depression were highest among workers whose perceived personal protective equipment and infection control needs were not met during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Safety + Health reports on a study by the Institute for Work & Health and Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers.
Media outlet
Safety + Health
Date published
Unsafe workplaces during COVID-19 taking huge toll on workers’ mental health
Poor workplace COVID-19 precautions exacted a greater toll on workers’ mental health than losing a job during the pandemic, a new study has found. The Toronto Star's Sara Mojtehedzadeh speaks to co-leads of the study, Institute for Work & Health's Dr. Peter Smith and Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers's John Oudyk.
Media outlet
Toronto Star
Date published
Canadian workers aren’t too worried about robots taking their jobs, web survey finds
If walking and talking robots are coming to replace employees at counters, desks and tills, Canadians don’t appear to be too concerned about it. The Toronto Star's Kieran Leavitt reports on a survey by the Environics Institute, with comments from IWH's Dr. Arif Jetha.
Media outlet
Toronto Star
Date published
Workplaces are the new hotspot for COVID-19 outbreaks in Ontario
Whether it’s factories, food processing plants or construction sites, the latest numbers show heavily populated, essential workplaces are hotspots for COVID-19 in Ontario, Mark Carcasole reports, with quotes from Institute for Work & Health's Dr. Cameron Mustard.
Media outlet
Global News
Date published
Canada’s health inequalities between rich and poor exposed in new study
Poor Canadians stand a greater chance of dying early than the well off and that gap has been growing for decades, says a detailed new analysis. The study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, found the chances of dying before age 75 of avoidable causes has been declining for almost everyone. But they’ve been declining for the rich much faster than for the poor and have been doing so for a generation, writes the Canadian Press's Bob Weber.
Media outlet
Huffington Post
Date published
COVID precautions protect workers' physical and mental health, study
Canadian health-care workers say they lacked adequate COVID-19 precautions during the pandemic’s first wave and new research finds this also contributes to poorer mental health. Workers Health & Safety Centre shares findings from a study by IWH and Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW), published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry.
Media outlet
Workers Health & Safety Centre
Date published
Health-care workers lacking PPE suffer from more anxiety and depression
While personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection control procedures are often discussed as measures to reduce virus transmission, we also need to understand their importance in the context of mental health, especially since the mental health impacts of COVID-19 may linger beyond the pandemic, writes IWH Senior Scientist Dr. Peter Smith in The Conversation.
Media outlet
The Conversation
Date published
Patients with arthritis, depression more likely to be unemployed
Depression symptoms are associated with unemployment among working-age adults with arthritis, with middle-aged adults most affected. Jason Laday reports on a study published by Dr. Arif Jetha in Arthritis Care & Research.
Media outlet
Healio
Date published
Greater focus on episodic disabilities needed: Study
Disability management must adapt and create a new model to reflect the impact of episodic disabilities among employees, writes John Dujay on a study led by Dr. Monique Gignac, scientific co-director and senior scientist at the Institute for Work & Health.
Media outlet
Canadian HR Reporter
Date published
Underreporting in injuries related to awareness of hazards, IWH report find
A study conducted in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario by Institute for Work & Health shows workers are more likely to report injuries at work when they are engaged in work exposing them to a common work hazard. For example, an office worker who hurts their back lifting a box of documents is less likely to report the injury than someone who lifts and carries heavy things regularly as part of their job, said IWH Senior Scientist Dr. Peter Smith, lead investigator of the study.
Media outlet
Daily Commercial News
Date published
More than 180 workers at this Toronto bakery got COVID-19 — but the public wasn’t informed. Why aren’t we being told about workplace outbreaks?
In April 2020, 184 employees at a Toronto bakery, many of them low-wage temporary workers, were diagnosed with COVID-19. One worker died. As Sara Mojtehedzadeh reports, the outbreak raises an urgent question. Why was the public never informed by authorities, when experts say workplaces can play a significant role in community transmission? IWH President Dr. Cam Mustard offers comments.
Media outlet
Toronto Star
Date published
Too many injured workers not seeking mental health supports
Why aren’t people getting the help they need? That’s a question raised by a recent study by the Institute for Work & Health, which found a substantial proportion of workers with compensation claims for a work-related musculoskeletal injury also experience a serious mental condition.
Media outlet
Canadian HR Reporter
Date published
Lack of PPE related to healthcare workers’ anxiety, depression: report
Sixty per cent of health-care workers in Canada reported anxiety at levels surpassing an accepted threshold for clinical screening for the condition. This is most prevalent among those whose needs for personal protective equipment have not been met, Jim Wilson reports on a study by Institute for Work & Health and the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers.
Media outlet
Canadian Occupational Safety
Date published
Is cannabis use on the rise?
Conflicting numbers suggest overall consumption is up, but at-work use unchanged, John Dujay reports on findings of a Institute for Work & Health study led by IWH Associate Scientist Dr. Nancy Carnide.
Media outlet
Canadian HR Reporter
Date published
COVID-19: One more reason to take mental health seriously
Many who work in the construction industry have direct experience of how important it is to support and understand mental health. Fortunately, the industry has recognized this problem and is working on solutions, writes Milwaukee consultant Bruce Morton in a column that cites Institute for Work & Health research on levels of depression following a work injury.
Media outlet
The Daily Reporter
Date published
Coronavirus: The risks to essential workers with hidden health conditions
The COVID-19 pandemic has left many in Canada’s workforce worried about their health and finances. Those worries are even greater for workers living with an underlying and invisible chronic health condition. In the planning of health and safety responses to COVID-19 and the ultimate reopening of workplaces, employers should be aware of the unique needs of this potentially vulnerable group of workers, writes IWH Scientist Dr. Arif Jetha in The Conversation.
Media outlet
The Conversation
Date published
Understanding challenges in hospitals' workplace violence reporting systems
To address workplace violence, we need to understand the size of the problem. That requires having reporting systems that collect reliable and valid indicators of of workplace events, consistently over time and across workplaces. This is not easy, writes IWH's Dr. Peter Smith, drawing on two studies about reporting patterns and challenges at Ontario's hospitals.
Media outlet
Contact
Date published
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Despite social distancing, many front-line public workers feel the strain
Stress and anxiety are rising among staff who work customer-facing jobs and feel their work environments may put their health and safety at risk, writes Andrea Yu. Many vulnerable front-line workers, for example those with pre-existing health conditions, may feel like they lack the power to voice their concerns, says IWH Scientist Dr. Arif Jetha in the article.
Media outlet
The Globe and Mail
Date published
Where does the use of cannabis now stand in the eyes of the workplace?
Has cannabis use and perception about workplace cannabis use changed since legalization? That’s the question Dr. Nancy Carnide and a team at the Institute for Work and Health (IWH) is exploring through annual surveys of Canadian workers. Angela Gismondi reports on the preliminary results, which Carnide shared at the Ontario General Contractors Association (OGCA) and Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA) Leadership Day.
Media outlet
Daily Commercial News
Date published
Addressing mental health, substance abuse at work requires new approaches: Experts
A panel of professionals offered tips for dealing with mental illness and substance use disorder in the workplace at the recent OGCA Leadership Conference. On the panel, Dr. Nancy Carnide, a scientist with the Institute for Work & Health who is conducting a survey on cannabis in the workplace, said that employers need to look at how the workplace may be contributing to substance use.
Media outlet
Daily Commercial News
Date published
The future of work will hit vulnerable people the hardest
A great deal of attention is being paid to the future of work and its impact on Canadians. Often missing from the discussion is the extent to which different workers will be included or excluded from the changing labour market. As the pace of change quickens in the years ahead, the sustainable employment of vulnerable groups could be in greater jeopardy and inequity could widen, writes Dr. Arif Jetha.
Media outlet
The Conversation
Date published
What’s causing the bottleneck in disability management?
When it comes to disability management and return to work, communication is crucial. But often there are bottlenecks, and a new study by the Institute for Work & Health cites case managers and frontline supervisors as big factors, finds Sarah Dobson
Media outlet
Canadian HR Reporter
Date published
Workplace violence solutions for schools central to recent ETFO symposium
Participants from across Canada came together to discuss the most urgent health and safety concern facing education workers today—growing violence and harassment in schools. At the symposium, IWH Scientific Co-Director & Senior Scientist Dr. Peter Smith spoke of data showing the rise in workplace violence in Ontario is mainly experienced by women in the education sector.
Media outlet
Workers Health & Safety Centre
Date published
IWH takes deep dive into the marijuana Pandora’s box
A team at the Toronto-based Institute of Work and Health (IWH) is doing a deep dive into the issue, though, that might yield valuable data for the industry. Findings from the work will help identify gaps in knowledge, problematic perceptions and risky use patterns, Grant Cameron reports.
Media outlet
Daily Commercial News
Date published
Protecting minds a priority in changing times
In a world where the only constant is change, mental health has become the fastest-growing category of disability in the workplace, Marcel Van der Wier writes. And yet, society is still taking an overly individualistic approach to mental health, emphasizing employee resilience instead of focusing on structural problems in the way work is organized, says Institute for Work & Health's Dr. Peter Smith.
Media outlet
OHS Canada
Date published
As teachers report more violent incidents in schools, boards struggle
In school boards across Canada, more educators say they’re being hurt on the job, according to data reviewed by The Globe and Mail. But there are gaps in data collection, and debates over the reasons for the rise in reports of violence, writes Carolyn Alphonso, citing IWH Senior Scientist Dr. Peter Smith.
Media outlet
The Globe and Mail
Date published
Chronic diseases not slowing down older workers
Personal health may be a factor for older workers in deciding when to retire, but it’s not as big a factor as previously thought, according to a new Institute for Work & Health study. Despite experiencing more pain and fatigue, older workers with arthritis, diabetes or both were no different from their healthy peers in their retirement plans, writes John Dujay.
Media outlet
Canadian HR Reporter
Date published
New beginnings: Recent immigrants need more support to reduce their heightened risk of injury
A recent study spanning across the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada found newcomers are at a higher risk of work-related injury and illness. Canadian Occupational Safety editor Amanda Silliker speaks to health and safety professionals and researchers in Canada, including IWH's Dr. Basak Yanar, about ways to reduce risks among recent immigrants.
Media outlet
Canadian Occupational Safety
Date published
Employers miss out on talent by overlooking workers living with disabilities
One reason for the lower employment participation rates of people with disabilities is that employers often have prohibitive concerns and pessimistic ideas about hiring people with disabilities. But research conducted as part of the Canadian Disability Participation Project, by a team that includes IWH's Dr. Arif Jetha, suggests that many of the most common employer concerns about hiring people with disabilities are unfounded, writes project lead Dr. Silvia Bonnacio.
Media outlet
The Conversation
Date published
Guest column: T.O. council's decision on construction tendering makes sense
On June 19th , Toronto City Council voted overwhelmingly to maintain its contractual relationship with the province’s major construction union. It's a longstanding relationship that militates towards high quality work, safer job sites and a robust training sector, writes guest columnist Phil Gillies, who points to IWH research on the union safety effect to support one of his arguments.
Media outlet
Toronto Sun
Date published
Implications of an aging workforce for work injury, recovery, returning to work and remaining at work
As the average age of Canadian workers continues to rise, employers may wonder about the implications on work injury, recovery, return to work and remaining at work. Some may expect that risks of injury are higher among older workers, that their injuries are more severe, or that timelines to recover and return to work are longer. However, findings from recent studies, including several conducted at IWH, paint a more nuanced picture. This article by IWH summarizes the evidence.
Media outlet
OOHNA Journal
Date published
Regulated working at heights training works and needed: studies
Two recently released Ontario studies demonstrate why mandatory, standardized working at heights training is so critical to worker well-being. One study undertaken by the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) conducted an evaluation of the impact the province’s working at heights training standard had on workers and their work sites. A second and earlier probe prepared by the Ministry of Labour (MOL) for the Chief Prevention Officer undertook root cause analysis of worker deaths from falls from heights.
Media outlet
Workers Health & Safety Centre
Date published
‘Nothing like it in the world’: Should Canada adopt New Zealand’s approach to supporting victims?
After New Zealand's prime minister pledges to financially support the recovery of survivors of a deadly mosque attack, Global News journalist Jane Gerster talks to Institute for Work & Health president Dr. Cam Mustard about the distinct features of New Zealand's no-fault insurance scheme.
Media outlet
Global News
Date published
WAH training standards show 'significant' results: IWH
Findings of a study evaluating the effectiveness of Ontario’s working at heights (WAH) training standards, conducted by a team of researchers at the Institute for Work and Health (IWH), were revealed recently during the Ontario General Contractors Association’s Leadership Day and COR Open House in Mississauga, Ont., Angela Gismondi reports.
Media outlet
Daily Commercial News
Date published
Opinion: Avoid shoddy work by using unionized tradespeople for public construction projects
Why do many municipalities, school boards, social housing corporations and other public bodies have long-standing arrangements that see their construction projects built by skilled tradespeople who are members of construction unions? Because the employees are well trained, they work safer and, in the long run, are not a significantly greater cost to the taxpayer than their non-unionized counterparts, writes Phil Gillies in an op-ed that cites Institute for Work & Health research.
Media outlet
Toronto Sun
Date published
Tailored support effective for young workers with disabilities
Young adults today have difficulty entering the labour market, especially those with chronic disabling conditions. A systematic review of the relevant research found tailored supported employment interventions can help young individuals with chronic disabilities succeed on the job, Amanda Silliker reports.
Media outlet
Canadian Occupational Safety
Date published
Despite ban, asbestos lingers and takes a toll decades later
Because decades might pass before a person exposed to asbestos develops mesothelioma, asbestosis or the other related diseases, health professionals believe the number and costs of asbestos-related cancers and disease will continue to rise, writes Monique Keiran in a column that cites Institute research.
Media outlet
Times Colonist
Date published
Research looks at cost-effectiveness in silica dust exposure fight
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is not always the most cost-effective means of protecting workers from dangers associated with exposure to silica dust, writes Don Proctor, reporting on the findings of an IWH study.
Media outlet
Daily Commercial News
Date published
Women four times more likely to experience sexual assault at work
Violence-related injuries at work are on the rise across Canada and this is especially the case for women, according to two recent studies conducted at the not-for-profit Institute for Work and Health, writes IWH Senior Scientist Dr. Peter Smith.
Media outlet
The Conversation
Date published
Sitting or standing too much at work? New video addresses ways to lower associated health risks
Sitting or standing for prolonged periods may adversely affect workers’ health, according to several recent studies. So, what should workers do? In a video titled Sitting or standing? Which is best?, two IWH researchers behind the studies answer that question to help clarify their recent research.
Media outlet
Safety + Health
Date published
Research on silica exposure controls finds PPE comes at a cost
Research estimating cancers averted and intervention costs of two silica control measures offers an important new perspective on the control of occupational cancers. Among the compelling findings, researchers concluded that personal protective equipment (PPE) is not the most cost-effective method of protecting workers from silica exposures, calling into question the common practice of providing PPE to workers exposed to hazardous materials.
Media outlet
Workers Health & Safety Centre
Date published
Canadians need to be educated on cannabis in the workplace, new study says
Research is limited on the impact marijuana use has on productivity and safety at work. Now, organizations need to revisit their employment policies. Sophie Nicholls Jones reports, with findings from IWH's study of at-work cannabis use and attitudes.
Media outlet
CPA Canada
Date published
Longer hours linked to diabetes risk in women: Study
Women who work more than 45 hours per week face a 63 per cent greater risk of developing diabetes than women who work fewer hours, but the incidence of diabetes tends to go down for men who work longer hours. Marcel Vander Wier reports on a study by the Institute for Work and Health (IWH) and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES).
Media outlet
Canadian HR Reporter
Date published
New systematic review outlines promising strategies to prevent prescribed opioid abuse, overdoses
The opioid epidemic continues to grow unabated across swaths of North America. A new systematic review by the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) now provides a comprehensive assessment of the strategies that have been tried to promote the appropriate use of opioid prescriptions, reduce their misuse and abuse, and prevent overdose deaths.
Media outlet
OOHNA Journal
Date published
Canadian companies revisiting workplace policies with cannabis legalization just one week away
With recreational cannabis legalization a week away, organizations across the country are having to revisit workplace policies in an attempt to balance safety and employee choice in Canada’s newly permissive legal environment. Mark Rendell reports on a cannabis business event hosted by The Globe and Mail, with IWH's Dr. Nancy Carnide among the speakers.
Media outlet
The Globe and Mail
Date published
For millennials, employment is a public health challenge
Millennials now make up the largest share of the Canadian workforce and many are facing precarious work conditions. The long-term public health implications of these trends will be significant, and should be addressed at the policy level, writes Dr. Arif Jetha.
Media outlet
The Conversation
Date published
Women in education sector at greater risk of workplace violence
Women working in Ontario’s education sector are four to six times more likely than their male counterparts to require time off work because of being physically assaulted on the job, reports the Canadian Occupational Safety.
Media outlet
Canadian Occupational Safety
Date published
Work-related stressors impact women and men differently, research finds
Exposure to psychosocial hazards at work adds to the growing health burden stress places upon both women and men, according to recently published Canadian research. Researchers from Institute for Work and Health found women reported lower job control, higher job strain (low job control combined with high job demands) and higher co-worker support compared with men. Women and men were found to have similar levels of job insecurity and supervisor support.
Media outlet
Workers Health & Safety Centre
Date published
Precarious work a health threat for millennials
Findings from a recent report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) suggest that working in a professional job no longer provides Canadians with access to working conditions that are optimal for health. These findings highlight a troubling trend: a great number of Canadians could be facing working conditions that are linked with poorer health, writes Dr. Arif Jetha.
Media outlet
Toronto Star
Date published
Supervisors play key role in return from injury, study finds
A recently released report urges employers to ensure supervisors express immediate support when a worker is injured or becomes ill and that they then remain positive during the recovery period to best ensure successful return-to-work (RTW) outcomes, writes Don Wall in Daily Commercial News.
Media outlet
Daily Commercial News
Date published
Working overtime could raise women's diabetes risk
Working lots of overtime may get you appreciation from the boss, but it might be bad for your health, writes Serena Gordon of U.S. News & World Report, about a new IWH study
Media outlet
U.S. News & World Report
Date published
Hard-working women, go home earlier to avoid this disease
Here's a good reason for women to work less, ask for a raise or get their partners to pick up around the house more: If women work fewer hours, it'll lower their risk of diabetes, according to a study by the Institute for Work & Health, reports CNN's Jen Christensen.
Media outlet
CNN
Date published
Opioids linked to longer disability leaves
A Canadian review of five studies have found a link between opioid prescriptions and longer duration of time on disability, writes Sarah Dobson, who interviews Dr. Nancy Carnide and Dr. Andrea Furlan, among others, about implications of this IWH study.
Media outlet
Canadian HR Reporter
Date published
100 million Americans have chronic pain. Very few use one of the best tools to treat it.
The pain system is "like an alarm system for your house." It can break; it can malfunction, says Dr. Andrea Furlan in this article exploring treatment options for chronic pain that has no biological cause.
Media outlet
Vox
Date published
Work-focused CBT can help depressed employees remain on the job
A new review by the Institute of Work & Health has found that while generic cognitive behavioural therapy can help keep employees with symptoms of depression remain at work, it doesn’t have an effect on helping them return to their jobs. The review found, however, that work-focused cognitive behavioural therapy can help depressed employees both stay at work and return to their jobs after being absent due to depression.
Media outlet
Benefits Canada
Date published
Baranyai: Workplace training key for safety of newcomers
A local store manager was eager to help newcomers from Syria find employment, but he made something clear. Before they could work a single shift, they would need sufficient language skills to complete job safety training. This safety-first approach is not a universal experience among recent immigrants, according to a study by the Institute for Work & Health, writes columnist Robin Baranyai.
Media outlet
The London Free Press
Date published
Hidden costs of skin cancer caused by workplace sun exposure revealed
Skin cancer cases attributable to work-related sun exposure could be costing millions of dollars, and must be better addressed by policymakers, according to a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene.
Media outlet
Science Daily
Date published
High at the helm: Workplaces preparing for cannabis legalization
Virtually nothing is known about why Canadians use cannabis on the job or how common it is for people to consume it at work, says the Institute for Work & Health's Dr. Nancy Carnide in this article on cannabis in the workplace.
Media outlet
The Globe and Mail
Date published
Leadership and courage key to building strong safety culture: panellists
One of the things IWH's Dr. Benjamin Amick does when he visits a work site is to do what he's not supposed to do. "I want the worker to tell me how much of an idiot I am... If (that) happens then I'm on a site that I know has a strong safety culture to begin with," he explains in a panel on safety culture. Angela Gismondi reports.
Media outlet
Daily Commercial News
Date published
Temp agency proposal leaves workers vulnerable, legal clinics say
A new policy on temp agencies under consideration at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is “inadequate” and fails to “address and rectify the very real dangers temporary employment agencies pose to workers,” says a coalition of Toronto-based legal clinics. Sara Mojtehedzadeh reports in a story citing Institute for Work & Health research on temporary agency workers.
Media outlet
The Toronto Star
Date published
Can data help prevent workplace injuries and death?
Can big data—and its less complex sibling, routine data—help prevent injuries and death? Yes, say Institute for Work & Health's Dr. Chris McLeod and Dr. Cameron Mustard. Routine data has been put to productive use in Ontario, where the Ministry of Labour learned that falls from heights (more than three metres) were the biggest cause of traumatic death in the construction industry, says Mustard, in an article by Peter Caulfield.
Media outlet
Journal of Commerce
Date published
New immigrants vulnerable to workplace accidents
New arrivals in Canada face additional vulnerabilities on the job, according to studies by Institute for Work and Health (IWH) in Toronto, writes Ian Harvey.
Media outlet
Daily Commercial News
Date published
Marijuana in the workplace: What is unsafe?
The federal government’s commitment to legalize recreational marijuana by July 1, 2018 raises occupational health and safety concerns for many employers. At the Institute for Work & Health (IWH), we have been reviewing the effects of various drugs that act on the central nervous system — including marijuana — on workplace injuries, deaths and near-misses, write IWH's Dr. Andrea Furlan and Dr. Nancy Carnide. What is striking is how little high-quality evidence there is on the impacts of marijuana in the workplace and how inconsistent the existing data is.
Media outlet
The Conversation
Date published
Companies fret about hazy rules around pot use
Once recreational cannabis use becomes legal, taking a “smoke break” at work could suddenly become much more complicated, writes Cassandra Szklarski of the Canadian Press. The Institute for Work & Health's Dr. Andrea Furlan and Dr. Nancy Carnide are among those interviewed.
Media outlet
National Post
Date published
Ontario plans to review Working at Heights training
“Working at heights is one of the most dangerous types of work in the construction sector,” says Dr. Cameron Mustard, president and senior scientist, Institute for Work & Health, in an article on Ontario's plans to review working-at-heights training standards. “By working with stakeholders to evaluate the WAH standards, we will help ensure construction workers are protected on the job and will return home safely at the end of each workday.”
Media outlet
Equipment Journal
Date published
Expert shares tools to improve site safety culture, climate
Dr. Linda Goldenhar, an expert in the safety culture and climate of construction workplaces, was in Toronto recently to discuss the research that led her team to develop a workbook to help strengthen jobsite safety and an online tool that assesses a workplace’s safety climate maturity, reports Angela Gismondi on IWH's Nachemson lecture.
Media outlet
Daily Commercial News
Date published
The role of benefits plans in responding to the opioid crisis
What steps can benefit plan sponsors take to help reduce the opioid crisis? The Institute for Work & Health's Dr. Andrea Furlan is among those interviewed.
Media outlet
Benefits Canada
Date published
Workers with disabilities report greater OHS vulnerability
According to a new study by the Institute for Work and Health (IWH), workers who identify as having a disability are more likely to be exposed to workplace hazards. Additionally, they are more likely to face inadequate occupational health and safety (OHS) protections. “Basically, they get hit with a double whammy,” said Dr. Curtis Breslin, lead author of the study.
Media outlet
Canadian Occupational Safety
Date published
Recent immigrants, refugees largely unaware of OHS: Researchers
When immigrants and refugees come to Canada, they are handed a 140-page document that contains only one small paragraph about employee rights. Unfortunately, this might be the only OHS exposure these workers receive, writes Amanda Silliker, reporting on an Institute for Work & Health research project.
Media outlet
Canadian Occupational Safety
Date published
'We're not seeing the truth': Inside the hidden dangers of the Canadian workplace
Unlike Australia, Britain and the United States, Canada does not have a national database of on-the-job fatality rates, Tavia Grant writes. Without such information, which can yield valuable preventive measures, is enough being done to protect the workers who needlessly risk their lives, or the families that grieve their avoidable loss?
Media outlet
The Globe and Mail
Date published
Canada’s deadliest jobs
It seems a basic question: What is the most deadly type of work in Canada? The answer isn’t readily available. While data are produced on the annual number of death claims by occupation, Canada – unlike other developed countries – doesn’t produce worker fatality rates. Tavia Grant shares the methods used by the Globe to come up with a fatality rate, with help from the Institute's Dr. Cameron Mustard
Media outlet
The Globe and Mail
Date published
No, a standing desk isn't as unhealthy as smoking
A headline today has proclaimed that standing at work is “as unhealthy as a cigarette a day," citing a new study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Illustrated with a picture of a woman bent over her standing desk clutching at her back, we’re instructed to “sit back down." But a closer look at the research in question reveals very little to do with standing desks. In fact, the study did not look at standing desks at all, writes Suzi Gage.
Media outlet
The Guardian
Date published
Bad news: Now standing at work is killing you, too
Wait, what? It's been less than a week since we shared with you the grim news that sitting as much as you do will one day transform you into a helpless, miserable, immobile old person who can barely walk. Now, a team of Canadian researchers have found that people who primarily stand at work are twice as likely to develop heart disease as their chair-dwelling counterparts
Media outlet
GQ
Date published
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If you stand for too long at work, you could double your risk of this disease
Odds are, you already know about the scary things that sitting can do to your health. But we have some bad news: Your standing desk may be doing more harm than good, too, writes Brooke Nelson.
Media outlet
Reader's Digest
Date published
Standing too much at work can double your risk of heart disease
People who primarily stand on the job are twice as likely to develop heart disease as people who primarily sit. This was the case even after taking into account a wide range of factors, including personal factors, health and the type of work being performed, writes Dr. Peter Smith in The Conversation.
Media outlet
The Conversation
Date published
Undercover in temp nation
Amina Diaby died last year in an accident inside one of the GTA’s largest industrial bakeries where, the company says, worker safety is its highest concern. The 23-year-old was one of thousands of Ontarians who have turned to temporary employment agencies to find jobs that often come with low pay and little training for sometimes dangerous work. The Star’s Sara Mojtehedzadeh went undercover for a month at the factory where Diaby worked
Media outlet
The Toronto Star
Date published
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Standing all day is twice as bad as sitting for your heart
On the circle of health hype, what was bad becomes good, then it becomes overrated, then it becomes bad again. That’s what happened to barefoot running and multivitamins, and it’s where the purported dangers of “too much sitting” seem to be headed. But the truth is probably somewhere in the middle rather than on the peaks or in the valleys. With that in mind, it’s worth looking at an interesting study just published in the American Journal of Epidemiology that finds jobs that require a lot of standing to be much worse for your health than jobs that require mostly sitting, writes Alex Hutchinson.
Media outlet
Runner's World
Date published
Injury and wellness: what are employers spending on prevention?
What workplace injuries and illnesses cost in Ontario is evident, but what do Ontario employers spend on prevention? That’s a question the Institute for Work and Health (IWH) is attempting to answer with a pilot study that’s underway. Dr. Cameron Mustard shared some of the early results.
Media outlet
Plant
Date published
Too much standing is bad, study finds — it's time to move
People who stand for long periods at work may have another reason to join their seated colleagues in moving more. "There's a good body of research evidence that shows standing a lot is actually bad for your health," said Peter Smith, a senior scientist at the Institute for Work & Health.
Media outlet
CBC
Date published
Weed at work
The legalization of recreational marijuana in Canada came closer to reality on April 13, when the Justin Trudeau government introduced the Cannabis Act, or Bill C-45. While pot users across the country applaud the move, others have raised concerns about the effect that the proposed legislation would have on workplace safety, writes Jeff Cottrill in an article that quotes the Institute for Work & Health's Dr. Andrea Furlan.
Media outlet
OHS Canada
Date published
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Construction among highest spending sectors to prevent work-related injuries
The construction sector is in the top five of 17 sectors in terms of spending per worker per year on preventing work-related injury and illness, says the president and senior scientist at the Institute for Work and Health (IWH) who is conducting a pilot study on the matter
Media outlet
Daily Commercial News
Date published
Developing standards for managing workplace disability
According to 2012 figures, about one in 10 Canadians of working age live with some form of disability—whether physical or mental, chronic or acute, episodic or temporary, work-related or otherwise. That's why the CRWDP is working with partners to develop a new system standard for managing work disability prevention.
Media outlet
Rehab & Community Care Medicine
Date published
New study shows that life and career stage do matter when thinking about the impact of arthritis on employment
Arthritis affects 4.3 million Canadians, 60 per cent of whom are under the age of 65. Yet, we know little about how people with arthritis balance their work responsibilities with the management of their health condition at different stages of their lives, writes Institute for Work & Health (IWH) Research Associate Julie Bowring.
Media outlet
CAPA Newsletter
Date published
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Work injuries have dipped: IWH report
A study conducted by the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) shows work-related injuries in Ontario declined by 30 per cent from 2004 to 2011, reaffirming the efforts made by employers to make the workplace safe, states Patrick McManus, chair of the Ontario Construction Employers Coalition (CEC).
Media outlet
Daily Commercial News
Date published
Making the best of RTW interventions
Multi-faceted programs that package together different components have their advantages, writes Institute for Work & Health (IWH)'s Uyen Vu.
Media outlet
Canadian HR Reporter
Date published
Work injury rates on the decline in Ontario: IWH
Work-related injury rates in Ontario fell by 30 per cent from 2004 to 2011 — in sharp contrast to non-work injury rates, which did not change — according to a study by Institute for Work & Health (IWH) Senior Scientist and President Dr. Cameron Mustard.
Media outlet
Canadian Safety Reporter
Date published
Getting back on one's feet
Healthcare providers who treat injured workers with multiple injuries and complex illnesses find the workers’ compensation system and return-to-work (RTW) process “opaque and confusing.” That's one of the findings from a two-year, multijurisdictional study by the Institute of Work & Health (IWH).
Media outlet
OHS Canada
Date published
Link to source
Epidemic of untreatable back an neck pain costs billions, study finds
Costing the US alone $88bn a year, low back and neck pain is widespread and expensive. Dr. Andrea Furlan of the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) and Cochrane Back and Neck discusses treatment options that are recommended, as well as some that aren't.
Media outlet
The Guardian
Date published
Increased OHS vulnerability linked to higher rates of self-reported injury: study
Workers who report being vulnerable because they are exposed to job hazards from which they are not adequately protected by workplace policies, awareness programs or empowerment mechanisms also report much higher rates of work-related injury.
Media outlet
Canadian Occupational Safety
Date published
Doctors frustrated workers’ compensation boards seem to ignore medical opinions, report says
The Toronto Star interviews Dr. Agnieszka Kosny about the findings of her study on the role of health-care providers in workers' compensation and return-to-work.
Media outlet
The Toronto Star
Date published
Young adults with arthritis more likely to be workers, not students
A survey of young adults by the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) revealed that those with arthritis reported significantly higher rates of employment and lower rates of education participation than their peers without arthritis.
Media outlet
AJMC.com
Date published
Bill introduced to end asbestos use in the province
Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey is calling on Ontario to ban asbestos, a substance that has had a deadly impact in his community. “In my riding of Sarnia-Lambton, there are many, many families who have buried loved one because of the mesothelioma they developed from exposure to asbestos while at work,” Bailey said. Paul Morden reports in an article that cites Institute for Work & Health research on the burden of asbestos.
Media outlet
Sarnia Observer
Date published
Returning to work after a mental health work injury
Much of what we know about the factors linked with successful return to work is based on musculoskeletal injury claims. When it comes to reintegrating workers after a psychological injury, practitioners still face considerable challenges, according to Institute for Work & Health research.
Media outlet
OOHNA Journal
Date published
Penalties work: Citations and fines can reduce work injuries
Deterrence campaigns or penalties: What’s more effective? The Canadian Safety Reporter reports on an Institute for Work & Health (IWH) systematic review on the effectiveness of regulatory OHS enforcement.
Media outlet
Canadian Safety Reporter
Date published
7 principles for return to work
After workers have suffered an injury or illness, employers have a duty to help them return to work. But successful RTW can be hard to achieve. As a result of a systematic review, the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) identified several elements contributing to a successful RTW. Here’s a look at the seven principles the IWH researchers developed based on those elements.
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OHS Insider
Date published
Making the business case for safety: Case study shows benefits of participatory ergonomics continue for years
Implementing a participatory ergonomics program takes time and money. To get your company’s senior management on board with such a program, show them this case study from the Institute for Work & Health (IWH), which shows how an Ontario utility continued to benefit years after implementing a participatory ergonomics program.
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OHS Insider
Date published
Forceful motion key risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome
Workers who often use their hands in a forceful gripping and pinching motion face a higher risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome, a painful condition that causes tingling, numbness and weakness in the hand and sometimes requires surgery, according to recent research.
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Canadian Occupational Safety
Date published
Making the business case for safety: Don't sacrifice safety for operations
Does paying attention to workplace health and safety take away from operational effectiveness? A team that included Institute for Work & Health researchers addresses this debate in a recent study.
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OHS Insider
Date published
Sex, gender differences may cause higher risk of some MSK injuries among women: research
Women who do the same tasks as men often face a higher risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in their neck and upper limbs, according to McGill University's Dr. Julie Côté, keynote speaker at the 9th International Scientific Conference on the Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (PREMUS 2016).
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Massage Therapy Canada
Date published
Government inspections and fines lead to safer workplaces, researchers claim
Government safety and health inspections that result in penalties for non-compliant employers encourage organizations to take action to reduce work-related injuries, according to research from the Institute for Work & Health.
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Safety + Health
Date published
OHS inspections with penalties effectively reduce work injuries: IWH
Government health and safety inspections that result in citations or penalties effectively motivate employers to make improvements that reduce work-related injuries, according to the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) in Toronto.
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Canadian Occupational Safety
Date published
New tool measures workplace safety systems and culture
How safe do you really feel in your workplace? What’s your day-to-day experience when it comes to health and safety? Enter the CAAT – or Climate Audit and Assessment Tool – a new way to measure workplace health and safety systems and culture. This article on the tool mentions the Institute for Work & Health's involvement in the project.
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Workplace Safety North
Date published
Vulnerable workers: Practical steps to protect new and young workers
This Insider Special Report will help you to protect these vulnerable workers by explaining how “newness” can impact workers’ health and safety; the legal protections for new and young workers under the OHS and related laws; and some practical steps you can take to protect this segment of your workforce.
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OHS Insider
Date published
Should you try massage for back pain?
How does a rubdown compare with physical therapy and acupuncture for treating back pain? Institute for Work & Health's Dr. Andrea Furlan comments on the research evidence.
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Consumer Reports
Date published
Asbestos-related cancers cost Canada $2B
Canada spends about $1.7 billion annually on asbestos-related cancers stemming from occupational exposure, according to a recent Institute for Work & Health study.
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Asbestos.com
Date published
Sit-stand combo helps prevent work-related health issues: expert
To reduce the health and injury risks of prolonged sitting, workers should change postures often and aim to stand for an equal amount of time that they spend sitting over the course of a work day. That was Dr. Jack Callaghan's message in a keynote address at the recent 9th International Scientific Conference on the Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (PREMUS 2016).
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Canadian Chiropractor
Date published
Asbestos-related cancer costs Canada billions
A first-ever estimate of the toll of asbestos-related cancers on society pegs the cost of new cases at $1.7-billion per year in Canada, and notes that is likely an under-estimate.
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The Globe and Mail
Date published
New worker, higher risk
Experts say orientation, training are crucial to keeping new workers safe. The Institute for Work & Health (IWH)'s Dr Peter Smith and Dr. Curtis Breslin offer comments on their studies about injury risks among new and young workers.
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Safety + Health
Date published
Early Intervention: Evidence-based predictors of return-to-work in LBP patients
Low-back pain is a leading cause of work absenteeism in Canada and other industrialized countries. Most workers with acute low-back pain (those experiencing pain for up to six weeks) return to work following a relatively straightforward path. Unfortunately, some do not. It’s important for chiropractors to understand the factors that affect the length of time it takes before low-back pain patients return to work, writes the Institute for Work & Health (IWH)'s Uyen Vu.
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Canadian Chiropractor
Date published
Age and length of disability for eight chronic conditions
Does an aging American workforce mean more time lost due to chronic conditions such as arthritis, cancer, chronic pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease, diabetes, depression, hypertension, and low back pain?
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LexisNexis Legal Newsroom/Workers' Compensation Law
Date published
Managing your OHS program: A case study on breakthrough changes in safety
Past research has identified the characteristics of firms that perform poorly or well with respect to work-related injury and illness prevention, but it hasn’t shown what it takes to go from one category to the other. A study by researchers at the Institute for Work & Health aimed to help fill that gap.
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OHS Insider
Date published
Study looks at relationship between employers and doctors in return to work
A key element of a successful return to work is a good, communicative relationship among the injured worker, the employer and the worker’s doctors. But a study found the relationship between employers and doctors can be marred by mistrust and lack of communication.
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OHS Insider
Date published
New IWH study looks at why companies make big improvements
Why do companies make changes in their OHS programs, safety rules, safety culture, etc., especially big improvements? And what motivates companies that were low performers in health and safety to take steps to become good performers?
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OHS Insider
Date published
External influences motivate firms to improve OHS performance
When workplaces make large improvements in occupational health and safety, it seems some type of external influence helps bring internal factors into play, according to a study by the Institute for Work & Health in Toronto.
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Canadian Occupational Safety Newswire
Date published
External factors influence improvements in workplace safety performance: IWH study
When workplaces make large improvements in occupational health and safety (OHS), it seems some type of external influence helps bring three internal factors into play: an organizational motivation to take action in OHS, the introduction of new OHS knowledge, and an engaged health and safety champion who integrates that knowledge into the organization.
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Canadian Chiropractor
Date published
Injured workers more likely to stay depressed if symptoms don't improve after 6 months: study
Poor mental health six months after an injury in the workplace indicates it will persist at the 12-month mark, finds a study by the Institute for Work and Health (IWH).
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Canadian Safety Reporter
Date published
In bid to tackle workplace abuse, a model that works
Advocates say better inspections and bigger fines could help curb wage theft. The Institute for Work & Health (IWH)'s Dr. Cameron Mustard comments on the need to communicate to medium- and large-scale employers of the consequences of making mistakes.
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The Toronto Star
Date published
Injuries at work may increase risk of losing one's job
The Institute for Work & Health (IWH)'s Peter Smith comments on a new U.S. study of nursing home workers, which finds workers are more likely to lose their jobs within six months of an injury.
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Reuters Health
Date published
Working with arthritis
Employees with arthritis may have limitations, but accommodations can help, according to an article that cites a study by Institute for Work & Health (IWH)'s Dr. Monique Gignac.
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Safety + Health
Date published
Unionized construction workers in Ontario less likely to be injured, less lost time than non-construction workers, says new study
Sean Strickland, of the Ontario Construction Secretariat, which funded the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) study, says it confirms there is a ‘union safety effect’ on workplaces.
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The Hill Times
Date published
Study finds shift workers have harder time recovering from injury
It’s well documented that employees who work evening, night or rotating shifts face a higher risk of being injured on the job than those who work days. But a new study by Dr. Imelda Wong from the Institute for Work & Health has found that shift workers are also more likely to have a harder time recovering from such an injury.
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OHS Insider
Date published
Feelings of depression after a physical work injury
The six-month period after injury a potential is a “window of opportunity” to identify and address mental health problems, writes Institute for Work & Health (IWH) study author Nancy Carnide.
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Visions
Date published
Are union workers safer?
An Institute for Work & Health (IWH) study states construction firms that employ union workers have fewer work injuries that require workers’ compensation payments for time away from work.
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Roofing
Date published
Link to source
OHSA likely to raise fines in 2016
Research conducted by the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) has convinced the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that more expensive fines for workplace-safety violations are likely to send stronger messages to employers to improve workplace-safety efforts.
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Electrical Contractor Magazine
Date published
On-the-job resistance training helps prevent musculoskeletal disorder: Review
Implementing workplace-based resistance training can help prevent musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of the upper extremity, according to a review by the Institute for Work and Health (IWH).
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Canadian Safety Reporter
Date published
Workplace resistance training program helps reduce musculoskeletal disorders: study
Strong evidence suggests that implementing workplace-based resistance training can help prevent and manage musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of the upper extremity. That's one of the key findings coming out of a systematic review conducted by IWH and published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
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Canada Chiropractor
Date published
Researchers conclude that OSHA citations, penalties reduce workplace injuries
A new study from the Institute for Work and Health (IWH) confirms the importance of OSHA inspections and penalties, says Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary at the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
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OSHA QuickTakes
Date published
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Exercise to ease MSD pain
You’ve been proactive, taking steps to manage job stress, and making ergonomic adjustments and enhancements to your work area to protect against musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), but these steps alone may not be enough. A new study recommends that exercising on the job could be your best defence against upper body MSDs.
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Health and Safety Report
Date published
Hand in hand
The debate on the role of unions in influencing workplace safety is as old as unions are. Organized labour, by serving as employee advocates, may have a positive influence on job safety after all, according to a recent Institute for Work & Health (IWH) study.
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OHS Canada
Date published
Link to source
The vulnerable worker
The term “vulnerable workers” is used increasingly in occupational health and safety (OHS) to describe those at greater risk of injury. Research at the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) has recently explored whether worker or workplace factors are linked to worker vulnerability. The result is a new 29-item questionnaire that measures the extent to which workers are at increased risk of work-related injury and illness and conceives vulnerability as a function of four distinct dimensions.
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OOHNA Journal
Date published
Adequate rest and recovery critical to help workers avoid burnout
Experts say significant stretches of overtime without adequate time for recovery result in diminished work performance and pose potentially serious health risks. The Institute for Work & Health (IWH)'s Dr. Cameron Mustard comments on risks of mistakes and fatigue
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The Ottawa Citizen
Date published
Benefits, accommodations help arthritis sufferers at work
Providing workplace benefits and accommodations to employees suffering from arthritis can help them maintain concentration and the pace of work, the Institute for Work & Health said in recognition of Arthritis Awareness Month in Canada.
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Safety + Health
Date published
Workplace supports help employees with arthritis
Canadians who have difficulty working because of their arthritis report fewer job disruptions when they use workplace supports, says a study by the Institute for Work & Health (IWH).
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Benefits Canada
Date published
Line blurred between lost-time, no lost-time claims: Study
Lost-time and no-lost time claim categories are not as valuable as they once were in evaluating how well workplaces are performing in primary prevention, according to a study from the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) in Toronto.
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Canadian Occupational Safety
Date published
Unionized firms are safer, concludes OCS-funded study
A new study analyzing injury claims data for 5,800 unionized firms and 39,000 non-unionized firms suggests unionized construction firms in Ontario are safer than non-union firms.
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Daily Commmercial News
Date published
Unions keep construction workers safer, study shows
A new landmark study of Ontario construction firms shows unionized shops report far fewer serious injuries than non-unionized companies.
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The Toronto Star
Date published
Work disability: Spiralling down
New research by the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) suggests that seriously injured workers tend to have shorter lifespans and that those who are permanently impaired following workplace incidents in their younger years have the highest risk of dying early.
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OHS Canada
Date published
Link to source
Ontario employers cashing in on temporary workers
The second in a four-part series looks at the precarity of temp agency work. The Institute for Work & Health's Dr. Ellen MacEachen is interviewed about her research on injury risks among temp agency workers.
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The Toronto Star
Date published
Study: Time-loss injuries may depend on work demands, premium rates
The line between no-time-loss injuries and time-loss injuries becoming blurrier, according to an Institute for Work & Health (IWH) study by Dr. Peter Smith.
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Canadian Occupational Health & Safety News
Date published
Get seriously injured on job. Die sooner?
Getting seriously injured on the job is bad enough. But according to a study from the Institute for Work & Health (IWH), people who are permanently impaired by work—related injury also face a greater risk of dying early—a risk that remains more than a decade after the injury.
Media outlet
OHS Insider
Date published
New tools to help businesses improve occupational health and safety performance
An OHS research project aims to make leading indicator information a key part of decision-making through the development of two new technological tools: an app and a dashboard.
Media outlet
Every Worker
Date published
Ergonomics programs drive down injury rates
Ontario utilities still have ergonomics programs in place years after participating in a research study, according to an article co-authored by Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro's George Minow, one of the study participants.
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Transmission & Distribution World
Date published
Online program emphasizes office ergonomics
As part of International Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day, office workers can use a new online training program to learn about the importance of ergonomics and how to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.
Media outlet
Safety + Health
Date published
OT workers finally get a break
New program at CAMI automotive assembly plant hopes to set a standard for workplace flexibility in the auto industry. An Institute for Work & Health (IWH) study on the impact of work-life balance and unpaid overtime on health is referenced.
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The Toronto Star
Date published
Will shift work age my brain?
There is plenty of evidence that it harms health, but a new report claims that 10 years of shift work ages your brain by an extra 6.5 years. So should you be worried? asks Luisa Dillner in an article that cites Institute for Work & Health.
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The Guardian
Date published
How to prevent RSI in your organization
Jim Wilson reports on how employers can ensure their workers do not get repetitive strain injury from work duties, and cites IWH study on injured workers experiencing pain following an injury.
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Human Resources Director