Ontario Life After Work Injury Study: Understanding the long-term recovery and labour market outcomes of injured workers in the shadow of COVID-19
Reasons for the study
This study builds upon the original Ontario Life After Work Injury Study (OLAWIS), which set out to determine the long-term health, recovery and labour market outcomes for people with work-related injuries or illnesses after they are no longer engaged with the Ontario workers’ compensation system.
This study is looking at the experiences and outcomes of lost-time claimants who experienced a disabling work-related injury or illness in January or February 2020 and, as a result, were recovering and, potentially, returning to work in the shadow cast by the COVID-19 emergency.
Objectives of the study
- Recruit 700 lost-time claim beneficiaries who experienced a work-related injury or illness in January or February 2020 to participate in an interviewer-administered survey that asks about their return-to-work and labour market status, recovery and other health outcomes, and experience with the claim and RTW process
- Link survey responses to WSIB administrative records to identify the modifiable and non-modifiable factors within the group that are associated with poor health and recovery outcomes and better or worse labour market outcomes at 18 months
- Compare the health and labour market outcomes at 18 months post injury or illness of workers’ compensation claimants whose recovery and RTW occurred before the COVID-19 emergency to those whose recovery and RTW occurred after the onset of the pandemic
- Inform and improve the design and administration of Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) benefits and claimant services
Information on the original OLAWIS study is available on this project page. And information on a study using the OLAWIS cohort to look at the use and role of cannabis in long-term recovery is available on this project page.
Target audience
WSIB decision-makers; representatives of injured workers; administrators of other work disability insurance programs in Canada
Related scientific publications
- Mustard C, Orchard C, Dobson KG , Carnide N, Smith PM. The adequacy of workplace accommodation and the incidence of permanent employment separations after a disabling work injury or illness. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health. 2024;50(3):208-217. doi:10.5271/sjweh.4149. (Open access)
- Dobson KG , Mustard C, Carnide N, Furlan AD, Smith PM. Impact of persistent pain symptoms on work absence, health status and employment 18 months following disabling work-related injury or illness. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2022;79(10):697-705. doi:10.1136/oemed-2022-108383. (Open access)
Project status
Ongoing
Research team
Collaborators and partners
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)
Funded by
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board