Plain-language summaries
Institute for Work & Health (IWH) plain-language summaries condense research findings in various formats. At Work articles explain study results with comments from the study leads. Research Highlights summarize journal articles in easy-to-read, digest formats. Sharing Best Evidence summaries highlight findings from systematic reviews and other types of reviews conducted or led by IWH researchers. Issue Briefings discuss key research findings from IWH or elsewhere on topics that are of particular interest to policy-makers.
Issue Briefing
Divergent trends in work-related and non-work-related injury in Ontario
An IWH study found strongly diverging trends in the annual incidence of occupational injury and non-occupational injury among working-age adults in Ontario from 2004 to 2011. This Issue Briefing highlights opportunities to improve the monitoring of injury across Canada.
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At Work article
Workers’ compensation systems vary greatly in their medical assessment practices
Differences in use of medical assessments may point to solutions to common challenges, IWH study suggests
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At Work article
IWH research plays key role in shaping WSIB policies that led to better outcomes
New case studies describe how Institute findings on return to work, recovery and retraining were ‘formative’ in changes at Ontario’s workers’ compensation board
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At Work article
Practitioners in workplace health and safety value research in decisions but lack for time
IWH study suggests OHS professionals would welcome a one-stop shop to find lay-friendly research
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At Work article
Online office ergonomics training program now available from IWH
IWH’s eOfficeErgo: Ergonomics e-Learning for Office Workers is an evidence-based training program that leads to healthy computing practices and postures among office workers
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At Work article
Mark your calendars for PREMUS 2016
World scientific conference on MSD prevention takes place June 20-23, 2016
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At Work article
IWH research on vulnerable workers leads to tool for measuring risk factors
29-item survey gauges vulnerability via workplace hazards, policies, procedures and worker awareness
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Research Highlights
Risk of heat- or cold-related illnesses across a broad population of Ontario workers
It's long been known that extreme temperatures can pose health hazards, from heat stress disorders to hypothermia and frost-bite. An IWH study found that a strong relationship exists between outdoor temperature and illness among the working population. And, as this study shows, it's not just in extreme temperatures that workers are at risk.
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At Work article
Work disability puts people at risk of premature death, study finds
Innovative 19-year follow-up study from IWH finds people with permanent impairment face higher risk of early death—especially those injured in younger years
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At Work article
Premium rates, work demands play role in whether injuries involve time loss
IWH study finds the distinction between lost-time and no-lost-time claims goes beyond injury severity
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At Work article
Work-related injuries decline in Ontario but no reduction found in non-work injuries
Study of injury trends in Ontario finds divergence in work-related and non-work injury rates
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At Work article
Employer supports improve function and productivity of workers with arthritis
Study finds not everyone needs accommodation, and that different accommodations meet the needs of different individuals
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At Work article
Nachemson lecturer shared lessons from 20 years of tracking impact at NIOSH
Lecture by Dr. Paul Schulte examined efforts to measure impact at U.S. federal research agency
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At Work article
Risk of work injury linked to night, evening shifts still high after switching to days
IWH study finds those who move into or out of shift work face the highest risks of work-related injury
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At Work article
IWH to explore how work affects health of women and men differently
New research chair explores role of gender and sex in work injury risk, recovery, chronic disease outcomes
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At Work article
Success stories offer new guidance to organizations on path of OHS change
Breakthrough change model finds external influence, new OHS knowledge, health and safety champion among catalysts for sustained change
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At Work article
Preventing upper extremity MSDs: What the latest research says
IWH systematic review recommends workplace-based resistance training to help prevent and manage upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders
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At Work article
Health-care use remains higher for two years among workers with job-related concussions
Two-year study finds health-care use by workers with mild traumatic brain injury not back at pre-injury level
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Issue Briefing
Suppression of workplace injury and illness claims: summary of evidence in Canada
This Issue Briefing highlights findings from two reports by Prism Economics and Analysis—one for Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and the other for the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba—on the incidence and risk of claim suppression.
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At Work article
Parents of 12- to 14-year-olds see high benefits, low OHS risk, in children’s work
Despite high injury rates in young teens who work, their parents voice trust in safety of workplaces
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