Longstanding work and health issues
Many longstanding issues related to work injuries and their consequences continue to negatively affect the lives and health of workers. For example, musculoskeletal injuries remain the leading cause of disability and discomfort among Canadian workers. Rates of workers’ compensation claims for traumatic fatalities have remained constant for the past decade. Persons with disabilities continue to be employed at lower rates, or in poorer work conditions, than those who do not live with a disability. Our research aims to provide new knowledge to help regulators and workplaces address persistent occupational health and safety (OHS) risks, workers’ compensation challenges and barriers to labour market inclusion.
Latest findings
![Two ambulance parked at the emergency entrance of a hospital in the night](/sites/iwh/files/styles/bootstrap_4_col_widescreen/public/iwh/images/hospital_emergency_ambulance.jpg?h=9f5479df&itok=MtZuff7M)
Rates of work injuries have declined in Ontario, except the most severe
From 2004 to 2017, rates of work-related injuries requiring an emergency department visit declined in Ontario. But that overall downward trend was driven by injuries that were mild or moderate in severity. Rates of very severe injuries did not fall among men and even increased among women.![A seated woman with a clipboard in-hand speaks to a female client](/sites/iwh/files/styles/bootstrap_4_col_widescreen/public/iwh/images/iStock-1681105205.jpg?h=62bc044e&itok=0GTaIiIB)
How do employment support programs impact the health of young adults with episodic disabilities?
Episodic disabilities can make it challenging for workers to find and sustain employment while managing their symptoms and work demands. An IWH study investigated the health impacts of employment support programs for young adults with episodic disabilities.![A residential home in mid-build is surrounded by scaffolding](/sites/iwh/files/styles/bootstrap_4_col_widescreen/public/iwh/images/home_construction_site.jpg?h=fe157144&itok=M_mpcAQl)
Safer work practices, lower injury rates maintained two years after Ontario’s working-at-heights training came into effect: study
In 2015, the Ontario government implemented a working-at-heights (WAH) training standard to ramp up fall prevention efforts. An IWH study team has now gathered two additional years of data on the effectiveness of this training requirement—both on work practices and injury rates.Featured impact case study
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