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.

A nurse sits in deserted hospital hallway, looking worried
At Work article

Violence prevention efforts face challenges despite commitment from hospital leaders

IWH implementation study reveals concerns over issues such as staff training, security, reporting
Published:
Man in red shirt jogs in a park adjacent to an office building
At Work article

Workplace facilities and environments can help workers exercise during off-hours

Study suggests employers can promote workers’ activity levels by highlighting amenities near or at work
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A man sits on the steps, holding his head in his hands
At Work article

IWH’s new guide on supporting workers with depression integrates research with practice

Evidence-based guide draws on a systematic review update and consultation with workers and managers
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A worker guides a crane lifting concrete at a construction site
At Work article

Embedding essential skills training in OHS lessons can boost learning: study

A pilot project by the Institute for Work & Health finds improved learning when hoisting and rigging students receive essential skills content as part of OHS training
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Young landscaping worker holds hedge trimmer
At Work article

IWH study estimates costs of non-melanoma skin cancers due to sun exposure at work

Figure of $34.6M for cancers diagnosed in one year is the first estimate in Canada of the economic burden of work-related cases of two common forms of skin cancer
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At Work article

Studies consistent in finding a link between opioids for MSDs and longer work disability

But high risk of bias across available studies limits ability to draw conclusions about cause and effect​
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A downcast woman sits waiting for news in an empty waiting room
At Work article

Family members play important but unacknowledged role in injury aftermath

A study of three Australian compensation systems recommends formal support for burdened family members
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Two smiling women at the airport
At Work article

Newcomers often lack OHS protection and information in their precarious first jobs

A study by the Institute for Work & Health examines the labour market experiences of newcomers to Canada and identifies a key role for settlement agencies
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View of training room from the back
At Work article

IWH study examines effect of Ontario’s mandatory OHS training on awareness

IWH study examines effect of Ontario’s mandatory OHS training on awareness
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The back of a cook in a restaurant kitchen
At Work article

Standing too long at work carries twice the risk of heart disease as sitting too long

Workers who stand on the job most of the time are at greater risk of heart disease than workers who predominantly sit
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A woman with disability works in a bakery
At Work article

Workers with disabilities report greater hazard exposure and lower protection

OHS vulnerability study finds people with disabilities report inadequate policies and low empowerment​
Published:
An elderly patient lying in bed
At Work article

Study update: New cases of mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer from one year cost $2.35B

IWH's new estimate of economic burden higher than earlier figure
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A young woman rests her head in her palm, eyes closed
At Work article

Young adults with chronic conditions often struggle to access workplace supports

Study of people with arthritis finds younger workers face distinct challenges requesting accommodation
Published:
Two female servers at a restaurant bar
Research Highlights

Prolonged standing on the job associated with higher risk of heart disease than prolonged sitting

Workers who predominantly stand on the job are at greater risk of heart disease than workers who predominantly sit. Workplace prevention efforts should target excessive standing, as well as excessive sitting, to protect the cardiovascular health of workers.
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Close-up of a rubber stamp and the word "denied"
At Work article

Proving mental illness diagnosis, duration a challenge for income support programs

Policy design study finds common obstacles for Ontario’s ODSP and Australia’s equivalent
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A man stands in shadow with head down
At Work article

Therapy can help manage depression, but in Manitoba, access to therapists is a concern

Therapy can help manage depression, but in Manitoba, access to therapists is a concern
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At Work article

Permanent work injury lowers women’s chances of marriage

Women experiencing a permanent impairment following a work injury are less likely than uninjured women to marry, says new research from the Institute for Work & Health.
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A woman with disability works in a bakery
Research Highlights

Workers with disabilities report greater OHS vulnerability

Workers with disabilities are more likely to be exposed to hazards at work than other workers, and are more likely to experience vulnerability due to inadequate measures to mitigate those hazards.
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Colleagues shake hands
At Work article

Effective workplace return-to-work interventions are multi-faceted: IWH review

New systematic review finds evidence for return-to-work programs that incorporate some combination of health services, case coordination and work modification
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Hand completing questionnaire
At Work article

OHS vulnerability as defined by IWH tool linked to self-reported injury rates

Study lends support to concept of OHS vulnerability as combination of hazards and inadequate protection
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