What's new

While primary care physicians play an important role in helping ill and injured workers return to work (RTW), they have a variety of learning needs about how to best navigate the RTW process. That’s according to an IWH study that found that physicians could benefit from additional training in four main areas: administrative tasks, personal beliefs about RTW, specific occupational health issues and available RTW services and tools.

IWH Scientist Dr. Arif Jetha takes on a new role as associate scientific director, effective September 1. In this role, he will work with the scientific director to ensure the standards of scientific evidence are maintained at IWH and that the scientific objectives set out in the IWH 2023-2027 Strategic Plan are fulfilled. Jetha will also play an active role in providing mentorship to IWH scientific staff, particularly those early in their careers, as well as post-doctoral, doctoral and masters students.

The first two rounds of the world’s first ECHO program on occupational and environmental medicine (OEM) have wrapped up, and preparation is underway for a third round this fall. We spoke to some of the health-care practitioners who attended the first two rounds to learn how ECHO OEM has helped with their most challenging return-to-work cases.

IWH is now accepting applications for the newly launched Cameron Mustard Early Career Accelerator Award. Named after the former president and senior scientist at IWH, this award was set up to honour Mustard’s commitment to mentoring future generations of work and health researchers and to strengthening the work and health research ecosystem.

IWH is looking for a Director, Strategic Relations to cover a 13-month maternity leave beginning mid-September. This individual will work with IWH’s Executive, KTE and Communications teams diversify and expand IWH’s research and stakeholder networks and impact. They will also identify opportunities for IWH expertise to contribute to the development of policies, programs and resources at the provincial and federal levels—particularly within Ontario’s prevention system.

July 31, 2023 (Toronto, Ont.)—Are workers who use cannabis at greater risk of having an injury at work? Yes, but only those workers who use cannabis during or before a work shift. Workers who only use cannabis outside of work hours are at no greater risk of getting injured at work than workers who do not use cannabis at all.

In the first systematic review on the subject, the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) examined the research literature on racial and ethnic inequities in return to work. It found strong evidence that non-white workers are less likely than white workers to return to work following an injury or illness—and moderate evidence that Black workers face pronounced barriers.

After an IWH study filled a research gap on claim suppression in B.C. and helped make the case for change, the province amended legislation to strengthen protections against the practice.

Two IWH associate scientists were promoted to scientists effective July 1, 2023. Dr. Avi Biswas and Dr. Nancy Carnide received their promotion after two members of the Institute’s Scientific Advisory Committee reviewed dossiers outlining their research activities as associate scientists, as well as their future plans as IWH scientists. In each case the recommendation to promote was unanimously positive.

According to an IWH study, Canadian workers typically fall into six patterns of daily movement that are associated with varying levels of cardiometabolic disease risk. In general, workers with higher daily activity levels had lower levels of cardiometabolic disease risk factors, but those with moderate activity levels also showed lower risk factors. 

A new social innovation lab, called Inclusive Design for Employment Access (IDEA), has hit the ground running. It’s now looking for partners across Canada and across all sectors to identify, develop, pilot and scale up innovative solutions to overcome labour-market barriers for persons with disabilities. IDEA aims to skill up workplaces so that they are confident in their ability to provide meaningful employment for persons with disabilities.

What will work look like in 2030 for young adults living with disability? Using established strategic foresight methods, an IWH team generated three future scenarios. The scenarios are designed to provoke discussions in Canada about the policies and programs needed now to ensure inclusive work in the future for persons with disabilities.

The Institute for Work & Health (IWH) has released its 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, which outlines four strategic directions that will guide the Institute in producing and sharing work and health evidence. This plan is the result of a year-long process that engaged stakeholders, members of the IWH Board of Directors and staff to take stock of IWH’s strengths and identify opportunities and priorities for the next five-year period.

Persons with disabilities are not only less likely than those without disabilities to find work. When they do, they are also twice as likely to find themselves in insecure, unrewarding jobs. This was a key finding from a recent IWH study that used a national survey to investigate what kinds of jobs persons with disabilities obtain compared to those without disabilities.

Every year, on April 28, we mark National Day of Mourning to remember those who have died or suffered health consequences due to work hazards. On this day, especially, we renew our efforts to make work safe and healthy for all.

On Thursday, May 18, the Inclusive Design for Employment Access (IDEA) social innovation laboratory is hosting a launch event. This partnered, knowledge-to-practice initiative is focused on building employers’ capacity to hire, promote and retain persons with disabilities, and to create accessible and inclusive workplaces.

Calling early-career researchers at the master’s or doctoral level intending to study work and health: apply now for a 2023-2024 S. Leonard Syme Research Training Award. Three training awards of $5,000 each are available. The deadline for applications is Friday, May 5, 2023.

The IWH-led Accommodating and Communicating about Episodic Disabilities partnership has officially launched the Job Demands and Accommodation Planning Tool (JDAPT) for workers. The evidence-based tool is designed to help workers with chronic conditions identify job supports that they can implement — on their own or with their supervisor’s approval — that allow them to keep working safely and productively without having to disclose their health condition.

An IWH research team has examined how working life could change in Canada over the next seven years and what the implications might be for young adults with a disability. Using strategic foresight methods, the team created three future scenarios that are designed to provoke discussion about the policies needed now to ensure an inclusive future for people with disabilities.

An evidence-based tool from the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) helps workers with chronic conditions learn about customized job supports and modifications that can help them continue to work safely, comfortably and productively. On March 21 at an IWH Speaker Series webinar, Senior Scientist Dr. Monique Gignac unveils the new Job Demands and Accommodation Planning Tool (JDAPT) developed by the Accommodating and Communicating about Episodic Disabilities (ACED) partnership. She describes the tool, how it works and the studies conducted to back it up.

In the issue, read about: 

• A new research program on AI, work and health
• IWH's OHS Vulnerability Measure's high ranking in a study of leading indicators
• The inclusion of the 'Seven Principles' in Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba's updated return-to-work workshop 

And more...

A study based on a large, nationally representative sample of 8,000 individuals in the U.S. looked at their earnings and mental health over 20 years. It found those with poor mental health are also the ones with the lowest earnings.

In an Australian study of five occupational health and safety (OHS) leading indicator tools around the world, a measure developed by the Institute has come out ahead for its ability to pick up workers’ risk of reporting a physical injury or a near-miss at work. The OHS Vulnerability Measure is now one of two tools recommended by the study team for use by the local workers’ compensation authority.

Studies to date have found evidence of racial inequities in work-related injuries and illnesses, but what about in return to work (RTW)? On January 17, in the first IWH Speaker Series presentation of 2023, an IWH team shares findings from a systematic review on racial inequities in the reintegration of injured or ill workers. The team will also discuss opportunities to address obstacles faced by workers of colour in RTW and provide recommendations for future research.